Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Solarian]

I'm still a long ways away from my contract and visa expiring, but I'm planning out my tour of Asia, and I'm really curious how long I am allowed to stay in Korea after my visa is expired. I want to stay here for a month with no job, so I can travel around Korea, and actually see this place, instead of working all the damn time. Is this legal though? Do I have to leave within 24h or something silly like that? I know you can come to Korea and stay up to 3 months or something with no visa, but does the same apply after your visa expires?
If it IS a problem, would I be able to get around this if I go to Japan for a few weeks and then come back here as a visitor? I plan on going to Japan after anyway, but if it's easier, I could go to Japan first, and come back to Korea and go to China from here. Flying out of Korea is way cheaper than flying out of Japan, so it's not even a bad idea.

[rowdie3]

You have to leave before or on the date listed on the back of your ARC card. If you don't, you will get a fine and possibly not be allowed to work here again. It happened to my friend. She overstayed by 4 days, payed a100,000W fine on the spot and was then denied a new visa when she tried to come back two years later.

Best way to do this is to go out of Korea and come back on a tourist visa.

I have heard of people going to immigration with proof of their plane tickets prior to the E2 expiry and getting an extension of up to a week, but this is on a per case basis.

[Solarian]

Hmm.. there's nothing on the back of my card, but there is a date on the front of my card. It's actually before the last day of work that I have, so that's kind of scaring me right now.

I just checked it, and it's 180 days for Canada, holy crap. So I guess I have to go to Japan first, then come back here if I want to be considered a tourist?

[ttompatz]

[Scotticus]

ttompatz is right on, although I'd like to add something.

I'm not exactly sure on the specifics, but if you do it far enough in advance (sorry, not sure on how far) you can get the 30 day non-work extension over the internet. I think they made it that you don't have to go to Immigration if you do it soon enough.

[Solarian]

Hmm, interesting.
My original plan was to stay a month, then buy a return ticket to Tokyo, spend 3 weeks in Japan, and then when I come back to Seoul, fly out to Beijing. Flying from Tokyo to Beijing is for some reason nearly four times the cost of flying from Tokyo to Seoul, and then from Seoul to Beijing. I think the Japanese are just used to paying unnecessarily high amounts for stuff
I think to keep it simple, I'll fly out before my ARC runs out, then come back after 3 weeks, stay a month, then fly to Beijing.