Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aussiekimchi]

There was a notice sent out to many recruiters on Friday by immigration.

It basically said:

Teachers coming after January 1st, 2008 will be required to:
1. Get a criminal check
2. Get a medical done at home and in Korea.

There will be no interview at any Korean consulate unless suspicious applications are submitted.



Criminal Check:
It will be mandatory.
This must be a national check and indicating no previous record.
A lot of grey area as to what is serious and what isn't. There cannot possibly be a "no tolerance" policy. There are always degrees or severity and circumstances.

Medical Check:
Done before and after you arrive in Korea.
You will get one done in your own country or wherever you are currently.
also
Shortly after arrival in Korea, a mandatory health check will be done before the teacher is issued their Alien Resident Card. The school will instruct the teacher as to when and where the check will take place. The checks will take place at clinics/hospitals authorized by the Korean Government. It has yet to be decided who will bear the cost of the checks (the school or the teacher).

The list of approved clinics has yet to be given...but some might skeptically assume that these will be in places which have sufficiently bribed govt officials to profit from increased business...

The health check will include a physical, as well as a blood sample.
Evidence of drugs and contageous diseases will be tested.

Schools and recruiters will not be held responsible for any costs incurred by failing the tests (including plane tickets, travel costs, accommodation etc). So basically if you fail, you go home on your own coin.

Interview at the Korean consulate in your home country.

The Korean government has decided to omit the personal interview with the Korean consulate unless unusual circumstances exist. The only time this will be required is if the Korean government has any suspicions about the teacher. The teacher will be notified of the need to interview at that point.

There is still a lot of grey areas.
I am not sure where that leaves us with Japan visa runs.
Also, as the notice stated that these changes will be enforced for teachers arriving after Jan 1st, I am not sure what happens if you apply before this date for a number but intend on arriving after Jan 1st.

As always, there are still a lot of tweaks needed and as this is Korea, things will change after a few mistakes are realised...but this may be a decent start. More clues to come.

For more info or confirmation on the notice sent out by Immi, check with your recruiter or school boss.

[SuperHero]

do you have a link that says the same thing or a scan of the actual document?

[Tony_Balony]

[Aussiekimchi]

yeah I know...there is so much that is still unclear...this is all I know at the moment. It is frustrating for us too.
We still really do not know EXACTLY what to tell people.
I was just happy the consulate interviews look like to have been scrapped.

[Tony_Balony]

Yes, thats important but I'd like something else scrapped in addition to the interview. Even without the interview, it looks like the Cans might have to go back.

[moosehead]

[garykasparov]

How many brown envelopes of money did hagwon owners give to immigration officials to scrap consulate interviews?

[Atavistic]

[Optimus Prime]

[nautilus]