Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

A friend of mine is in a bit of predicament. They were given to the police as part of a mj circle. No possession of anything, but by Korean law merely testing positive equals possession.

Anyway, this person doesn't have a Dave's account so I'm asking on their behalf.

They are getting the typical Korean bureaucratic run around where three different governmental agencies are saying three different things. This individual was told they have an exit ban, then that they didn't have an exit ban, then that if they pay the fine they may seek employment in Korea next year. ( I highly doubt this is actually possible given that one in trouble in their home country for a DUI a decade ago can be denied a teaching visa but..)

As you can see this person needs some serious advice so if you or someone you know can help please do. The situation is a bit dire because on the advice of one of the above confusing Korean agencies they purchased a ticket home but now may not be able to leave... due to the exit ban which may or may not exist.

( Interestingly enough this whole situation began with another teacher mailing the stuff to themself from home while on vacation. Upon arrival in Korea the package was spotted and followed. The sender's Korean significant other was home and signed for the package. The Korean police then swept in and the Korean who signed for the package sang like a canary. Many people were named and arrested.

The original couple involved in the delivery have since been sent home. The Korean informant who signed for the package paid-off the judge, or more likely, their family did. Regardless, these original people are free and clear and my friend who was simply present and inhaled is being put through the ringer... so... yep, HELP! )

[proustme]

How old is your friend?

[Ramen]

Tell him/her to get a lawyer. Let the lawyer do the talking.

[chaz47]

[whome?]

It is worth spending 200,000 won for an outside attorney consult. Have all of your questions prepared, contact someone, sit down for 60 mins and get the answers. Ask for specific citations of applicable laws.

Out of curiosity, if a korean gets busted for drugs etc, do they round up every Korean in that person's phone book and test them? Do they need a warrant to test Koreans but not foreigners?

[tired of LA]

[proustme]

Sometimes good things happen to good people!

These are definitely people you don't want to be associated with. Too late regarding that, apparently. I suspect you may have known about his drug use, considering your astonishment at his arrest for simply being present and inhaling! I hope these druggies get banned from Korea or jailed here for a long time. What buffoons. They have got to live by their choices.

I recently had to get finger printed in Korea for an in-country criminal record report. I hope this becomes standard. A criminal check from someone's home country isn't enough anymore, because people like your friend will probably try to reenter and teach/work in Korea hoping arrest records here won't show up.

Hopefully you've learned a lesson, too, about how the Korean police will check associates -- especially foreigners -- of the arrested.

[madoka]

[conrad2]

Your friend is not currently in custody? He should get out of here asap and dont look back and feel lucky that they dont throw the book at him and make him do serious time.

[T-dot]

If they test positive=guilty of possession

There is no way around this. It will also depend on the amount found, they could conceivably tie your friend to drug smuggling; guilt by association.

1) They will try to get your friend to roll on other friends to make a deal. Dont listen, its all crap.

2) You can hire a good lawyer that handles these kinds of cases ie. min. of 10,000,000 won. And you can try to fight this. If you fight this your friend will be stuck in a detention centre with all the other people awaiting trial for drug possession, trafficking etc.. He will not be allowed to leave. If he wins, then he should get awarded a few bucks and should be able to remain and work in Korea.

3) You can plead guilty and accept the punishment. If they are nailing you on possession, then it will most likely be a deportation. They wont have a chance to gather their things and will be escorted to the airport as soon as he can get funds to buy a ticket. Smuggling is a different story.

Get your friend a good lawyer![u] Ive heard of a few cases where foreigners got the royal shaft because they couldnt afford a decent lawyer.[/u]

PS, Im assuming your friend knows he's not exactly the brightest bunny in the forest.

[some waygug-in]

Just wait till AES gets wind of this.

Yeeehoooow!!!!!!!!!!

[PatrickGHBusan]

Get a good lawyer as advised (yes it is costly) or if your friend cannot afford one then plead guilty and get deported

[0916]

Out of interest, how do they do the tests? Blood, Urine or Hair? It could show in your hair from 9 months ago even if you had only been in Korea 3 months!

[VFRinterceptor]

Your friend has no hope of working in Korea again, now that his name has been entered into their system.

I don't think the penalty would be too harsh for having THC traces in his bloodstream. Talk to a lawyer, get a quote for their services and decide whether its worth just taking the punishment.

I would just work with the court appointed lawyer, take whatever punishment is handed and leave the country wiser.

[PatrickGHBusan]

VRF...that is sound advice and well balanced as well. I am impressed.