Korean Job Discussion Forums

sojourner1

Today, my hagwon director presented all of us foreign teachers with a letter in Korean hangul, we were required to show our ARC, the director wrote our names and ARC numbers on the paper, and then had all of us sign one.

She told us it was for a Korea national police check.

While I have never had any trouble in Korea or been carded by Korean police, I should not have to worry, but I am concerned that I could lose a co-foreign teacher who did get pulled over and in trouble by police several months ago.

Are any of you getting a sudden police check? If so, what's the deal as I had never heard of just being stopped for a check like this on a job?

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:12 am Post subject:

So 63 of you have read this thread and no one says that you have seen what I just seen today?

Why would I be seeing something that is not the norm? Maybe I am one of the first hagwon teachers to see a mandatory criminal record check that is not listed in the contract. You know things like criminal record checks and drug tests are listed in contracts or employment agreements in most countries otherwise you never see them. Perhaps many of you will respond in the coming days...

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

There is one hagwon I know for sure that is doing that in Incheon. I think it's just that hagwon that is requiring it.

It is a larger chain place.

I haven't heard anyone from the smaller places say they've had to sign similar thingies.....

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

It seems that there is no immigration law. Each office just makes up the laws that seem to work the best for them. That is why everyone needs different documents for the same visa and no one can get a straight answer about regulations. What a bloody joke the Korean gov't is. I thought the Canadian gov't was brutally organized, but Korea takes the cake.

jadarite · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:33 am Post subject:

1. Look out for the safety of students
2. Clean house
3. Ask questions later

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

slothrop · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Word to the wise: never, repeat never, sign ANY document until you've read it - and understood it.

If you don't understand the 'meaning' completely - then have the document translated/transcribed in your language and to your satisfaction re potential consequences.

These document signing guidelines are used by Justice's of the Peace/Notaries/lawyers etc world-wide. Failing to follow them can get you into a heap of trouble later on.

If a Korean asks you to sign something only written in Korean, just say, "No". If the document is written in two languages, just initial or sign the paragraphs written in English.

Always keep a copy of any document you sign (and date).

The Perfect Cup of Coffee · Joined: 17 Jun 2007

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

Had the same thing in my hagwon. But we had a good K teacher read it to us. There was also one FT whose Korean is good enough to get the gist and nod about the translation.

h

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

The law begins in December and applies only to new applicants from then on.

So they shouldn't be making everyone do it now.