Korean Job Discussion Forums

[scattydove]

It is my aim to do the CELTA next summer with a view to going out to either Korea or Japan (i'm still researching the possibilities) after I have completed it. However I do have a rather...colourful medical history and I am wondering how this will affect my chances of getting a visa/job (if at all).

I've regularly suffered from viruses and infections since being very young, though I cannot see that this would affect my chances in any way. I have asthma, though it is very mild and I only take a puff on a reliever inhaler when I need it (the times of which are few and far between).

My main issue is depression! I started with it in 2002 and was on medication up until 2005 when myself and my GP agreed I could come off it. I was fine for 2 years and then had a bit of a relapse so went back onto it. I have been on it since and feel completely fine now. Obviously I do want to come off it again at some point. I am on the smallest dose of anti-depressent that there is, and i've never caused harm to myself or anyone around me. The doctor has told me that it is mild depression.

Obviously I am concerned about this affecting my chances of securing a job. There will be those of you reading this who think "well if she can't manage in her hometown without going crazy and needing drugs, how the hell is she going to cope in a completely foreign environment?!" I don't blame people for thinking that, and I have indeed been thinking it myself for a while and that's why I have held off even beginning to research TEFL. However I do now feel like i'm in a place to start looking to the future, but i'm worried that my past history will spoil my chances.

Is it common practice to have a medical in order to get a visa? If so, is this done by an independant doctor? Or will a medical report submitted by the candidate's own doctor suffice? Is there anyone on here who has gone out to Korea on anti-depressants? I do hope to be off them by next summer anyway, but I can't say for sure. Would it affect my chances if my medical/medical history states that even though I am symptom free, I am still taking medication? The way I look at it is people take regular medication to treat a myriad of medical conditions and these are accepted....so depression shouldn't be any different. However I am also aware of the massive stigma attached to mental illness.

I suppose I'm seeking some reassurance that I at least have a chance to pursue this. If there is no chance of me getting a visa due to my medical history then I won't waste my money and time doing the CELTA. For anyone who wants to leave negative or snarky comments, please don't bother. I am being realistic about this. I am fully aware that depression is never completely cured and people can relapse at any time (as I did 2 years ago). However, as I said above, I haven't even thought about beginning to consider TEFL until I truly felt I was in a position to do so. Furthermore I have been doing everything in my power to ensure that I make myself as well as possible (CBT, counselling etc...) and it seems to be paying off.

[Carla]

Ok, you don't need to have a medical to get the visa, you have to do a self-health statement, which consists of 5 questions.

1. Have you ever caught infectious diseases that threaten Public Health before?
2. Have you ever taken any Narcotic (Drug) OR Have you ever been addicted to alcohol?
3. Have you ever received treatment for Mental/ Neurotic/ Emotional Disorder?
4. Are OR were you HIV (AIDS) positive?
5. Have you had any serious Diseases OR Injuries for the last 5 years?

You do have a medical test once you get to Korea to get your ARC ("green card"), but it involves a drug test, std test, and tb test (lung x-ray).

Now, you can lie about #3, but if you get caught, you're gone. The biggest thing is the drug test. Would the medicine you are taking set off a drug test? I don't know what drugs are based on what.

Now, I don't know anybody with depression to go to Korea. I don't know if it is a red flag. There was a guy last week who was rejected because he had heart surgery before as a preventive measure for heart disease. Not because he had a problem, it was a preventive (although extreme) measure.

I broke my arm 4.5 years ago, and I answered truthfully to #5, but that is far from a disease or anything else that causes a problem. Unless you can find someone who did suffer from depression, was honest about it, and actually made it to Korea, I probably would not risk it if I were you. Now, if you can find somebody, go for it. Just don't let the people you work with know anything about your condition.

[AgentM]

[Carla]

[scattydove]

[scattydove]

[AgentM]

[scattydove]

[Carla]

[shostahoosier]

If you answer truthfully to #3 (mental illness) you will most definitely be rejected by EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, and the Jet Programme.

If I were you I wouldnt mention it. Lying sucks but because of the stigma attached to depression and mental illness....it might be your only option.

I have a friend teaching in South Korea right now who is actively taking anti-depressants and she is doing fine. If you search blogs you'll also find people in the same boat.

I'm sure there are stories of people who dont do ok..but everyone's different. Dont let anyone here tell you to stay home...its really only something you can decide (if you're mentally fit to handle the stress, culture shock, etc.).

And dont feel totally guilty...a lot of people are fudging the truth when they claim to have never used narcotics. A LOT of people....

good luck!

[E_athlete]

I'd just not mention it. I don't think the doctors can find anti-depressants in your blood even if they tried to find it.

You dont even have a problem. Convincing a doctor you are healthy is a lot easier than convincing them you are ill. I have convinced 100's of doctors to give me sick notes when I wasn't ill (yes 100's, im not exaggerating). How easy do you think it is to not mention you are taking anti-depressants?

This is what will happen. You will get some blood work and urine test. They will measure you in various ways and they will start asking about your medical history. Just tell them something true like your mother has diabetes etc and how you have no allergies and just lie that you aren't taking any medication. The history part is less than 60 seconds.

Be sure to take a year's supply of anti-depressants. You will need to somehow acquire this. I'd worry about this more. If you go to Korea and ask for them there is no telling what will happen. I have heard about doctors that contact your employers and tell them about your private health problems. Yes, I'm not joking.

[AgentM]

[jurassic82]

I wouldn't worry too much about your situation. Again you should just consider ahead of time if moving abroad is for you. It can be really stressful and hard to adjust at times especially in Korea where things don't often make sense. As with the previous replies they do the health check when you get here and it consists of a drug test, HIV/AIDS test (Not other STD's) and chest X-Ray. They don't check for mental health issues unless like mentioned before some prescription drugs set off the drug test. It's up to you how much you want to disclose. Best of luck to you.

[Majeh]

If you're just taking antidepressants and have never been enrolled in a mental health treatment program (example: suicide attempts), answer question #3 as "no". To my knowledge, the Korean National Health Insurance DOES NOT share its database with Korean Immigration.

[AgentM]