Korean Job Discussion Forums

Geckoman · Joined: 07 Jun 2007

Interesting article about the stereotype that foreigners are an AIDS invasion to Korea.

The Korea Herald:

Expats and HIV: Stop the Stigma
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/12/04/200912040006.asp

I don't know about you, but I don't have AIDs. Wink

dirving · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: South Korea

Thanks for the post.

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

It's a basic failure of logic on the part of Koreans.

Foreigners frequently get voluntary HIV tests -> Lots of foreigners must have HIV.

The scary thing to me is that Koreans DON'T get voluntary HIV tests. So it's probably MORE risky to have unprotected sex with a random Korean than with a random foreigner! At least the foreigner will be able to tell you the last time he or she got tested!

AussieGav · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: Uijeongbu

I just finished the article myself. Interesting how Immi is distancing themselves from blanket annual testing.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

seoulsucker · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

Can't wait to see how this plays out.

You know the old saying, "The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing", right?

In Korea, the left hand doesn't even know it's a left hand.

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

Man, what is with the Korea Herald lately? They're on their way to actually being the first respectable English newspaper in the country. A good long run of articles lately that actually have deeper criticism of Korea than "kimchi is spicy."

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Remember ATEK's campaign about equal tests for all? Well it looks like the opposition to ATEK has been proven right again, at least in regards to SMOE. They will be testing all foreign teachers "regardless of visa type".

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

TUM: Did you notice in the story that SMOE's response for why they're requiring it is "It's the law" although it's not the law?

Mithrae · Joined: 22 Jul 2009

Another thing about SMOE. Although Immigration says our criminal record checks must be no older than 6 months old, SMOE has decided that it will only accept CBC's that are no older than three months. So all of you who already got your checks done for the Feb./March jobs. Guess what? You have to get them done again. By March they'll be older than three months. Back to the police station for more fingerprints. Shocked

The thing is, the CBC checks are an immigration requirement. I don't know how SMOE can supercede immigration of this matter. Maybe it's their way of saying 'go to hell' as a reaction to the massive criticism we threw at them after those last-minute job cancellations a while back. Or someone on the SMOE board is a card-carrying member of that anti-English Spectrum group. Who knows.

Either way, it's just another headache, and one more example of nothing ever being implemented in a consistent, rational manner in this friggin country.

mises · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired

I worked in Singapore and was required to have an HIV test for each visa, including renewals. As were all my expat friends/coworkers. Nobody moaned about it. None. Then, I applied for and received an American visa. Also had to take an HIV test. Both also required TB exams/x-rays. The Americans needed a criminal reference check. My better half has Canadian PR and they needed criminal checks too. That's life.

Will you people stop whining about this? If the Koreans want an HIV test give them one. If they want 10, give them 10. You are a guest. It's their house. You're embarrassing all Occidentals with this childish nonsense about "stigma" and "discrimination". It is their house. Not yours. Theirs. If they want you to submit a rectal exam, you do it. If you don't want to, don't live there.

asylum seeker · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Location: On your computer screen.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Of course you need a new CBC in your home country, especially after you spent all your time over here in Korea making the authorities paranoid thinking you might have found a way to warp back home one night, commit a crime, and return the next day to teach Shocked

You got to hand it to these Korean officers, they leave no rock unturned.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

What a fantastically well-written and researched article.

It is sad that without reading the article you might think that mises actually had anything to say besides hot air. After actually reading the article, I have to say that what mises wrote is a bunch of baseless nonesense. Rule of law is something I think we can all respect.

Old Gil · Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Location: Got out! olleh!

Mises logic: "if a country makes a law, we must respect it no matter how stupid, because it's a LAW. A PRETTY SHINY LAW!"