Korean Job Discussion Forums

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Korean government really doesn't want you to come here.

That's the message I'm sensing everytime I go to the immigration office.

A hundred plus people waiting hours on end to jump through administrative hoops. Two or three dour-faced, burnt out officials calling numbers in a cramped poorly ventilated stink box in a run down building.

Contrast that with any other government office I've been to in Korea.

The people standing in line might as well be wearing t-shirts, each with a different letter spelling out G-E-T O-U-T. W-E D-O-N'-T W-A-N-T Y-O-U-!

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

Sigh...

Here's the thing YOU Rolling Eyes

don't get about Korea... Rolling Eyes

It's not that.... Rolling Eyes

The Grumpy Senator · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Up and down the 6 line

thoreau · Joined: 21 Jun 2009

Wow. When I want to the immigration office in Gwangju there was almost no line and everyone was friendly and trying to help. They even had a Korean lady walking around helping people fill out forms.

Plus, if the Korean gov't didn't want people to come here they would do something BEFORE you go into the country....

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

This is why you go early, like when they open the doors. There's no line, and the officials haven't had a chance to become annoyed yet.

I feel free to give up my secret, because it's been posted before yet no one ever takes this awesome advice.

Morning_Star · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

LAME. That's only cause you didn't have to go to the immigration office back home. Immigration offices in the US are the same if not worse. Meaner workers.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

Visas are actually amazingly cheap (compared with the west)

Incheon Customs were pleasant enough, Ommokyo my wife did all the talking. My only real problem so far has been the bitch stewardesses on Korea Air and the odd ajumma.

I think in general that Customs, in how they deal with foreigners, have markedly improved.

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

What does the smart person do?

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

reserve on line
arrive
wait for ARC
leave

Under 5 mins.

vk33 · Joined: 26 Feb 2008

ill repeat that a 3rd time: make an appointment

and ill add: dress smart, wear your happy face, and expect that things will go wrong and be cheerful and polite no matter what.

i had an appointment this morning. whoever was supposed to be manning the window for appointments wasnt there. i waited patiently and got helped by a very kind young woman at the SOFA / Diplomat window.

the difference between me and you: i had a suit and tie, all my paperwork ready, and didnt get worked up when i had to wait.

getting irritated with immigration only hurts you, hagwonnewbie.

kentucker4 · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Georgia

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Gwangju immigration is awesome. Especially if you are well-prepared.

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

here's another good idea that no one who goes to immigration ever seems to think of: if you've forgotten something or have run into a problem, politely ask for help instead of yelling at the official. i realize that not everyone who works at immigration is going to be a joy to deal with, but it is my experience that the people who are angry and yelling always leave with nothing accomplished.

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

uijeongbu immigration is also a breeze.

Goon-Yang · Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Duh

Can we change the title to either "Seoul Immi sucks" or "Op is clueless"?

Can we do that mods?

Daegu can be pretty busy and my boss first took me there years ago and things were a breeze. We did go early in the morning though.

Every other time I've went has been early in the morning, so what's the problem? I have classes then and I've had to cancel them to go. Why can't the hakwon monkies get out of bed early and go? It's not like they teach in the morning.