Korean Job Discussion Forums

[helly]

I got stopped by immigration officers once while walking to the immigration office from the subway station. They implied that I was teaching illegally, I told them that I was going to get my ARC. They then asked to see my ARC. I told that I didn't have it, that I was on my way to immigration to pick it up.

I wish they had said, "Come with us" and given me a ride to immigration. It was cold that day.

[Leeroy]

I got stopped in Bucheon about two years ago. I was a there as a tourist at the time. Had returned home to NZ two months earlier and was back in K tieing loose ends, visiting my gf, thinking of working there again, attending a few interviews and so on.

I was killing some time in a PC bahng close to Bucheon station. I left the bahng to go catch a train as I was meeting a friend. Just before I got to the station entrance an ill suited man showed me his business card, said he was from immigration and asked me to follow him. Took me to this mini-bus parked outside the station. Inside the bus there were about half a dozen or so of the "less desirable waygooks". I felt sorry for the poor b***ards. I was asked to show my passport and answer "What are you doing in Korea?" I just told them the truth. I didn't tell them I was thinking of working here again. I was still undecided about that. Anyway by this stage I had pretty much made up my mind about ever visiting Korea again, let alone working there again. Was in their paddy wagon for no longer than two minutes.

On my way to the station I was approached three more times by these lackeys. The last guy asked me "Oh, you from America?" I promptly told him my nationality and that I've already put up with other stupid questions from his colleagues in and outside his little bus and I proceeded to walk through the turnstyle. He just stood there and waited for more waygooks to charm.

As I said before, I was contemplating working there again but that ordeal left me convinced about how backward thinking and crass much of Korean society can be. Later on that day I told my gf (Korean) and her friend about the experience. They were just like. "well, you are a foreigner in Korea and many foreigners work here illegally blah blah". I left Korea the following week.

This was all during korea's preparation for the world cup. Great for tourism I kept thinking.

[DHC]

This is not your home country. As a foreign national you are required to carry your passport or Alien Registration Card at all times. Officials of the Korean government , not just Immigration , have the right to ask to see these documents at any time. Don't confuse your "rights" in your home country with your rights in Korea. They are very different.

Some posts suggest that you refuse requests to show your passport or card , cop an attitude , or try to evade or play games with officials. I can't think of a better way to get yourself arrested. Try these tactics in China , Vietnam or Thailand and see what happens to you. You will find that Korea isn't such a bad place.

[Mosley]

The cops in my town asked to see my ID once. In fact, they asked for my passport. Didn't have it, just my ARC and I stood my ground & told them that that was good enough. Finally, they relented. I think they were just bored-can't blame them. But, yes, fair or unfair, legitimate officials have the right to see your passport OR ARC anytime they want, for any reason. Just the way it is....

[candu]

DHC, I would never suggest looking for trouble with the police or immigration authorities in China, Vietnam or Thailand, nor would I argue that Korea is in the same category of human rights abusers as those countries are; it isn't. (Never claimed that profiling doesn't happen in the US, Canada or other western democracies; it does.) I'm just pointing out that it isn't terribly fair that the motivation for being stopped on the street is because one is a "foreigner", and that being a foreigner is reason enough to be suspected of something by the authorities. And by the way, having been here since '96, I came to realize a long time ago that Korea is a pretty good place - and improving daily - but I don't need a comparison with dictatorships (China,Vietnam) or pseudo-constitutional monarchies (Thailand) to appreciate it.

[Ilsanman]

All countries (except maybe Buk han) have illegal immigrants. Approaching people on the streets is about the stupidest way to find out who they are.

Imagine doing this in Canada. You approach an asian looking person and ask why they are in Canada. You will probably get a reply of 'I was born here, asshole!!'

I am not confused about my rights in Korea. The government has made it abundantly clear that I have none.

[Mr. Pink]

[rapier]

Police/ agents followed me into the pc bang and asked for my details one time. My adress and alien card etc. they also rang my school to check:)

[ratslash]

ignore them. nobody has any right to stop you on the street and demand paper work.

[kylehawkins2000]

For the person that responded about getting asked for a passport in Europe. I must say that that is a very different set of circumstances. I was asked for my passport on a number of occassions in Europe but didn't think twice about it because I was crossing borders into different countries on a regular basis. There are no borders to cross in this country.

The way that the immigration department and Koreans in general treat foreigner here is disgraceful. The way they are rounding up all of the migrant workers is a shame. If a similar thing happened back home there would be a national outrage.

[Mosley]

No, you CAN'T ignore the *&%$@#s! Again, if they are police or immigration(you have a right to see THEIR ID)they have EVERY right to see your ARC card OR passport. Either is acceptable. You can whine how it's BS, yada, yada(and I would agree completely) but you HAVE to submit to that request. End of story folks.

[J.B. Clamence]

Getting stopped and asked for I.D. isn't a big deal. If you come from a place where you're not used to it, it can be annoying, but you have to remember not only where you are, but also who you are here. If I were a Mexican immigrant back in the U.S., you can bet I would have my Green Card on me at ALL times and wouldn't try to b*tch if INS asked to see it.

The fact of the matter is many countries in the world require everyone (immigrant or native) to carry official I.D. on them, and submit to having it checked at any time. So most of us come from places where we're not used to having such rules. This is how it is here, and as annoying as we may find it, we have no choice but to accept it.

[hellofaniceguy]

If the "man" in the U.S. stops you in the street and asks to see your ID and you cop an attitude, they will do a Rodney King on your smart arse! Even though I am a smart ass, you got to know when to fold. And messing with the man in any country is bad news. We ALL KNOW that we have to produce our ID upon request to ANY law enforcement person in korea. That form you sign when applying for your allien ID card also states the same. The sign is also posted on the wall in BIG letters. Besides, it's common sense. Or are westerners becoming koreanized?

[Mr. Pink]

Just another after thought:

Korea is still technically at war.

Korean police routinely check Korean males at subway stations, malls, shopping areas etc.

They check their ID for two reasons:

1) Make sure they aren't skipping military service
2) Make sure they aren't N.K. spys.

[TheUrbanMyth]

If Immigration asked to see my card I would produce it. However if someone approached me on the street (as in the OP's situation) I would simply pretend I don't speak English. "Parlez-vous francais?" Okay my french is pretty bad too...but I doubt they know the difference. And it works wonders in getting the JW's to leave you alone