Korean Job Discussion Forums

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

So my friend was in Lotte Mart the other day and immigration officials pulled him out and demanded to see his alien card and passport.

WTF?

Regardless of what he might be doing in the country this is horrible behaviour.

If he was a valid E-2 visa holder, checking his ID at Lotte Mart serves nothing but to insult and humiliate a teacher in public.

If he was a tourist....he'd never come back.

If he was one of those illegal teachers....he only knows that immigration is out for blood and might choose to lie low for a bit.

Dumb, dumb bastiches. So much for saving face or doing a good job.

Kind and Caring Korea.

poet13 · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

Assuming this isn't a troll.....Wow...just WOW. I think I'd say enough to get arrested if they pulled that crap with me.

rollo · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China

Golly gee! An immigration officer doing his job. What a horrible experience having to open your wallet and show him your card. He probably had a tip about an illegal in the area and was checking around.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

If he had to be pulled, that means he must have been resisting in some way. Very very bad. You can be put away for resisting in Korea.

If immigration had to demand to see his card, he must have denied to show it initially. Very very bad. You can be put away for not showing your ARC in Korea.

Rolling Eyes

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

It is the law - you are to have your ARC card with you at all times. Thru demanding to see the passport would be difficult to comply for me as I like to keep mine safe a home.

More details please EARTHBOUND14. Was your friend dragged out kicking and screaming? Was he beaten with clubs? OR was he politely asked to come outside of the store at to prevent embarresment , talked to for a few minutes then sent on his way.

Also remember you ARE NOT IN BLOODY KANSAS anymore. God you and your friend would not last a F-ING minute in China or Russia if you got your panties in a twist everytime your where asked for you papers. You would scream everytime some Russian traffic cop demanded a bribe. This is not Canada or the States and the same rules do not apply here.

Also how the hell where IMMI supposed to know your friend is on an E-2. Does he have it tattood on his forehead or would he OM OH OH MY GOD
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show his ARC card.

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

CA-NA-DA-ABC · Joined: 20 Jun 2006

goodsounz · Joined: 09 Jan 2006

I have been checked at a train station by an immi official and a police officer. I produced my card, they let me carry on my merry way. What's the big deal? You should go and try living in China!

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

Why doesn't immigration just start randomly going to hagwons? Instead, they single out people who are minding their own business at a department store? And who the hell keeps their passports with them at all times?

At my first hagwon, we had these early-morning winter classes during the Christmas break. Only about five kids went to it. On Fridays, the foreign teachers had to take them on a field trip that the director picked out. Our first one? Taking the kids to Homeplus. That's right: Homeplus.

So as we're walking out with these kids, one of the managers, some really mean b!tch, stops us. (Of course she stops us after we spend money.) She asks for our I.D. and the name of our school. We just looked at her as if she were crazy and walked away.

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

It's easier to just grab people at Lotte Mart. After all, 'effort' is the opposite of 'asian police force' I believe.

Same thing happened to me when I was living, legally in Japan. Walking through the Kyoto train station and two armed men (they looked like SWAT, not immi to me) kept asking me in Japanese to see my passport. Having only been in the country for a month at this point I had no idea what they were talking about.

In the end, they gave up and we went our seperate ways. Did it suck? Yes. Did it feel the teensiest bit racist? Oh yeah.

It's an injustice, but the best thing to do is just go with it. The legal system is not on our side here and its unrealistic to expect this country to operate like the West.

Dont get me started on the time when the japanese cops were called to help out after my friend's apt got robbed/burgurlized and I heard one of them remark to their dispatch (translated) 'This is a waste of time, its just a bunch of gaijin.'

If you know what the word gaijin means. . . yeah. . .

nateium · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

nateium · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

The government is also imposing lower quota's for immigration to accept.

Thus in effect they are also doing a crackdown on illegal immigrants, which then requires them to inquire into suspicious looking people.

The police also has the right to stop and ask for documentation.

Unemployment is on the rise, and the first people you want out are illegal foreigners, after that legal foreigners.

This way local inhabitants can get jobs, which is also completely stupid, because Koreans don't want those jobs.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

Considering that Korea is trying to improve tourism to the country, harrassing foreigners while shopping is not the smartest move.

I would suggest your friend write a letter to the papers and/or talk to the KNTO (Korean National Tourism Organization) about the matter. Maybe nothing directly happens but if other people are being harrassed eventually it should come to the right people's attention.

Also, I have heard that there are people who pose as "immigration officials" and try to elicit bribes from 3-D workers. Please make sure you see ID before you show your ID.