Korean Job Discussion Forums

[offtokorea]

I've been offered a job in Wonju. It looks like a decent school and my kind of city and I'm not scared of leaving my home country, but I am absolutely terrified of the health check.

Can I hear some personal stories about the health check? I know they'll be checking for AIDS and TB. I fainted during my last TB test (which was negative) and I hate the sight of blood and needles. How nice are the doctors in Korea? Do I get this done at some sort of clinic? What should I expect?

[J.D.]

The doctors are rushed, like most things in Korea.

The test is pretty quick...height/weight check, a chest xray, draw a blood sample, and pee in a cup. The.n come back in a few days for the result

[JMO]

I'm also terrified of needles. I've had two health tests in Korea. One for the visa and one for our uni. We get a health check every year now. The uni one was much more comprehensive and I got a full printout along with a letter grade which was funny.

If I remember right, the blood test is the last part you do. you'll be sitting at a table with maybe two doctors taking blood at the same time.

I am always terrified and really nervous until the exact moment when the needle goes in, then I stop being nervous. I always feel a little elated when its finished.

My advice is not to look at the needle or anything that is going on. Put your arm on the rest, turn your head, choose a spot on the wall and concentrate on it until your done. You will have assigned hospitals you can go to and there will be certain times. You might need some help filling out forms.

[offtokorea]

Will there be doctors who speak English?

[toniyellow]

Are you going through a GEPIK government orientation, or directly hired to a hagwon/public school?

If it is an orientation you will get the medical test done in a big hall with every other incoming person. The blood test will be given by nurses. They are good at their job. There will be coordinators around who speak English. There will be a few other people there scared of the blood thing, or of peeing in a cup. They restrict your access to water for 12 hours before the test which results in a lot of problems producing urine, so I would bend the rules and have a glass when you wake up.


If you are a direct hire it will be at a hospital or clinic that your school takes you to. Almost every doctor and dentist in Korea speaks some English, to be able to keep up with medical journals. Their medical English at least will be perfect even if they can't tell you the days of the week.

[byrddogs]

[PeteJB]

I have a different problem, I welcome needles. But tablets? Forget it. I can't swallow tablets for the life of me. If they can't be broken up, crushed or given in liquid form then I won't take them. I used to be able to, but somehow I developed a phobia after a succession of choking dreams.

[eamo]

Just get some balls.

You are an adult, aren't you?

[El Macho]

When I had my physical in Seoul, the blood draw was done in the waiting room, in front of everyone. There were also vials of blood everywhere.

Needles don't usually bother me, but all that was enough to get me a bit light-headed. Anyway, I just looked away and the stick went fine.

Don't worry about it, use some positive thinking and it'll be over before you know it.

[offtokorea]

Thanks you guys. I'm still scared, but it feels better to know I'm not the only one.

[Janny]

I mildly hyperventilate and cry a little while I get a needle. It seems so silly at the time but I just can't control my fear.

I wonder where this phobia comes from. It's unrational yet so powerful for me. ...Past life experience?

I like to think I was a heroin junky in a past life and the bad vibes have carried through into this one. Either that or a very sickly child with an evil nursemaid at home.

[nomad-ish]

while i hate getting needles too and watching others get them, if i'm the one giving the shot, i'm fine with that. go figure

anyways OP, you should expect that the korean clinic/hospital that you go to won't be as organized/private/western as back home. i'm always surprised at how often i find myself holding my own cup of urine with other patients in the waiting room.

[Weigookin74]

I'm scared of the boogyman!

[AsiaESLbound]

[djsmnc]

You my be able to pray for the health test to be successful without the use of needles or other medical equipment