Korean Job Discussion Forums

tmax500 · Joined: 12 Feb 2010

I was offered a position within Korea and signed a contract a couple of years ago. Was due to go to Japan for a visa run, but didnt do the visa run and backed out of the job (for personal reasons). School manager not happy (needless to say) and told me I wouldn't be able to work in Korea again.

I would like to go back to Korea, but afraid of financial risk of going there and then finding out a visa isnt possible. Maybe I should only apply for jobs from outside the country.

Any opinions?

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Why the heck wouldn't you apply for jobs outside the country? Don't you like free airfare and security before moving to the ROK?

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Koreans lie about stuff like this all the time.

I highly doubt you are on any kind of blacklist. But there might be some truth in this as far as the visa is concerned. If you were already issued a visa issuance number for this job, but didn't actually go to get the visa, it might cause problems if you try to get another job. You might want to call immigration and ask them whether or not there will be a conflict.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

If it was a couple years ago, i doubt it would matter.

If there IS some kind of record that you got a visa issuance number and didn't collect the visa, you can always say that you had no idea that your employer had applied for a vsa. Maybe he applied with the assumption that you'd be returning and hoping that it would pressure you into returning.

As long as you didn't actually get the visa then I doubt it would matter. But the easiest way is to just apply for another visa when you get a job offer. You'll find out soon enough whether or not you're eligible.

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

There is nothing to keep you from getting a job here. No real blacklist here at the moment, and nothing to remind anybody that you were here. The only people that will know anything about you, and not hire, you is the recruiter, and any possible associates, you walked out on. You never applied or obtained an E2 Visa, there is no record there, and it wouldn't make any difference anyway it was years ago. The only thing that would matter is if you walked out on a public school position, which you didn't do. Immigration is unlikely to interview you, and even if they do, tell them you were here to see Northern Asia and Korea. All you had was a tourist visa. Lots of people come to Korea and get tourist visas.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

2 years in the limit on most bans from Immigration, and you would have gotten notice of a hearing and a decision. Did you?

If you have any questions, you can always call Immigration and ask if there is a ban on your name. Odds are NO.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

1. Your former prospective boss blacklisting you is illegal.

2. Your former prospective boss may very well "know someone at Immigration"; however, that person probably doesn't know the former prospective boss from Adam.

3. Ignore the lying bum's threats.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

All lies and scare tactics. No employer can ever put you on a list which refuses you getting an E2 visa. The only way you can make that list is if you have committed a serious criminal offense, been deported, or been refused a visa in the past.

Call the person's bluff about their friend at immigration. Personally they are full of garbage. Even if they did know someone, that person would not be stupid enough to start altering your personal records at immigration. The penalty for being caught doing that will stem far beyond them just being fired.

It's kind of like someone saying they know someone who works for the police. Even if it were true, they couldn't use that persons position as a source of authority.

dirving · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: South Korea

I was refused a visa for the rest of my life by the Mokdong Immigration Office in Seoul this past August. My last employer, who I took to the Incheon City Labour Relations Commission, requested that I never be allowed to enter the country in future. It took a lawyer and three visits from him to the biatch at Mokdong to make it go away.

pattyb · Joined: 29 Jun 2009

I don't know about about an "official" blacklist but what about a blacklist between employers?

I talked to a recruiter who was very nice and sent me several possible job offers, etc. I was almost ready to take one and then, due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to back out of the job. I had not yet applied for the visa yet. The woman was very nice again and told me when I had my affairs in order to contact her again.

Well, you can guess the rest. I contacted her again but no response after repeated emails. I then tried another recruiter who was very nice initially after I had applied and then again, no follow up later. Even if there was something they didn't like in my initial application, wouldn't you think they wouldn't even reply back? It is almost like they ran my name through a database and then something popped up and decided not to go further. Again, this was after initially submitting my application/resume.

Very strange. I am almost scared to apply anywhere else. Oh, the second person did say after the last contact that the current job market was tight and she would get back to me as soon as something was available. WTF?

I guess it isn't possible to get on a plane yourself anymore and find a job yourself? I know I could land a job if it was up to me. I hate the idea of having to rely on recruiters! I feel they are on a power trip with the new visa regulations. Anyone else experience the same thing?

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Our school once tried to blacklist one of the teachers that did a midnight run. I was at the immigration office when my boss was doing it. Even though this guy got flagged, the immigration officer said that if he wanted to work in Korea again...he would be able to do so. Even though he did a midnight run and my boss did everything in her power to make sure he never set foot in Korea, it was all for naught. If a school wants you bad enough...not problem. Even if they don't, once your visa with your previous school is finished, you still can work at another school.

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

there is no real comprehensive blacklist in Korea and immigration couldn't give a rats ass if you broke the contract or did a midnight run on a school. All they care about is if you broke the law while you were here (i.e. stole something from the school). You simply have to wait untill your E2 visa expires to be able to come back to Korea. If the school you got hired for and then bolted on was a public school they would probably have a record of you bolting and you wouldn't get hired for another public school position. Otherwise you're not going to have any problems getting a job here.
Do some research on the schools wanting to hire you, before you accept a position with them. Ask around on this website and see if anybody has had problems with them. You're best bet is public schools, because at least you know they are not going to screw you over financially. Personally I doubt if I will ever work at a Hogwan.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OBwannabe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

There is an "unofficial" blacklist for hagwon owners.
A few weeks ago a coworker and I noticed a sheet of paper on our supervisor's desk. It was all in Korean, but luckily my American coworker is fluent in Korean.
It said "Unofficial Blacklist"...it looked to have been printed from a website, but I'm not sure.

It was only one page. Not sure how many foreigners are actually on the list. There were about 8 people on this one.
What was most disturbing was some of the reasons for the blacklist. One was, too critical of Korea(I kid you not). Another was a girl who signed a contract from overseas, but decided to decline the job.

I have a friend who took his shady employer to court and won! But now he can't get another job because anytime he applies for one the immigration/visa office warns the potential employer about him. Complete garbage.