| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: Doors opened for foreign volunteers |
 |
|
This has been a heated topic in the past (for a variety of reasons), so hopefully this will come as good news to many.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2905833
| Quote: |
Doors opened for foreign volunteers
June 08, 2009
It�s long been difficult for foreigners residing in Seoul to get involved in volunteer work.
They don�t know where to sign up due to a lack of timely and accurate information about volunteer programs. And, of course, there�s the ubiquitous language barrier. It�s hard to help if you can�t communicate.
But there�s a glimmer of hope - the Seoul Volunteer Center. The center announced on Friday that it will receive applications from foreigners who wish to do volunteer work in the Seoul area. The center said it had prepared several different programs for foreigners to choose from.
Teaching foreign language and foreign culture to children of lower income households, visiting social welfare centers, participating in international cuisine and culture parties, volunteering at work camps and participating in environmental clean-up jobs in Mount Bukhan are among the choices.
�Foreigners won�t have to worry about communicating because they will work together with Korean volunteers who are fluent in foreign languages,� said Kim Mun-jeong, an official of the center. �Because each program starts on different days, you can apply for multiple volunteer programs that match your interests.�
To discover expatriates� interest, the center conducted a survey of 101 foreigners in Seoul from May 10 to 17. The survey showed that 30 percent of the respondents wanted to engage in community service work. Foreign language education and environmental clean up work followed, marking 19 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
Those who are interested can visit http://volunteer.seoul.go.kr. Download and fill out an application form and send it to [email protected]. For further questions call (02) 776-8478 |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
diver
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| But is it legal? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thank You!!!!!! 
Bump!
I have been trying to find out this kind of information for 10 months! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I've been told that volunteering is legal on an E2 visa, because there is no money changing hands and therefore is not an income-generating activity. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jane, that's exactly what the Director of Busan Immigration Office told me in a public forum (hosted by the Canadian Consulate). He said that not only is volunteer work legal, there is also no requirement for written permission from his office to perform volunteer work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's great to see more being done to help expats who would like to do volunteer work in Korea.
I noticed the article mentions clean-ups on Bukhansan. The Korean Mountain Protection League is an expat and Korean group active in this area:
http://www.kmpl.org/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
diver
Joined: 16 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I hope this is somewhat OT...
Does anyone know if Alan Biggs and SIRC (Seoul International Rescue Corps) are still around? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
So allowing volunteering is "helping" expats. I would have thought its "helping" Koreans.
Strange how doing extra work for free is ok, but getting paid for extra work is not ok. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| GoldMember wrote: |
So allowing volunteering is "helping" expats. I would have thought its "helping" Koreans.
Strange how doing extra work for free is ok, but getting paid for extra work is not ok. |
Yeah, because volunteering is totally about helping yourself, not others. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| CentralCali wrote: |
| Jane, that's exactly what the Director of Busan Immigration Office told me in a public forum (hosted by the Canadian Consulate). He said that not only is volunteer work legal, there is also no requirement for written permission from his office to perform volunteer work. |
That may be so for Busan but not for every immigration office. I know of at least two people deported for volunteering at an orphange. No money changed hands and there was no english teaching just spending time and doing activities with the kids.
Double check with the immigration office in the area you'll be doing the volunteering in and you're own local office if they're diferent immi offices. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Double check with the immigration office in the area you'll be doing the volunteering in and you're own local office if they're diferent immi offices. |
Why bother? You could ask two officers the same question and probably get three different answers.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| cdninkorea wrote: |
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Double check with the immigration office in the area you'll be doing the volunteering in and you're own local office if they're diferent immi offices. |
Why bother? You could ask two officers the same question and probably get three different answers. |
Which is why, to be safe, immigration in the past has directed people to this website:
http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/imm_04/imm_0404/sm9.jsp |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
boatofcar
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Location: Sheffield, UK
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
I know of at least two people deported for volunteering at an orphange. No money changed hands and there was no english teaching just spending time and doing activities with the kids.
. |
Where was this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| It's utter poppycock that volunteering is "engaged in activities beyond current visa." If it's not poppycock, then shopping and even sightseeing are beyond the current visa too! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| CentralCali wrote: |
| It's utter poppycock that volunteering is "engaged in activities beyond current visa." If it's not poppycock, then shopping and even sightseeing are beyond the current visa too! |
I agree. I'm just posting what immigration said about 2 years ago when people inquired about doing volunteer performances and acting plays. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
