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SleeplessInHannamdong
Joined: 27 Jul 2009
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 Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject: MOJ: From July 15, E2 drug test will test for marijuana |
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According to an online article, the Ministry of Justice intends to reinstate the cannabinoid (eg marijuana) component of the E2 drug test. (Note that E2 visa holders must pass this test before obtaining their Alien Registration Card, a process that at present must be completed within 90 days arriving to Korea.)
The article says that this and other changes to visa issuance requirements will be effective as of July 15, and that the Ministry of Justice is currently informing the designated drug-testing hospitals of the policy.
This is from an article released today on Edaily titled, if I am understanding correctly, "Visas to be used to address troublemaking native-language instructor situation". The article talks about the Daegu teacher situation under a subheader that reads "crime by native-speaker teachers has become commonplace". It substantiates this claim by saying that from 2007 until August 2009, 274 foreign English teachers committed crimes, including 84 people convinced of violent offenses and 57 people convicted of drug-related offenses.
The second subheader that mentions the intended drug policy is titled "Could troublemakers be weeded out[*] by strengthening the visa issuance requirements". This is where it mentions the MOJ's change to the drug policy. It also goes on to mention that they intend not to accept crime records from regional police offices and instead seek to require E2 visa holders to bring some sort of documentation from national "FBI-level" agencies.
As an aside... it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Over a quarter of American states have legalized medical marijuana so far, and Canada had done so long ago. As such, a new arrival who acts in accordance with all laws when on Korean soil could nevertheless fail the test due because of (what is legally defined in the host country as) proper follow-through of a doctor's prescription prior to entering the country. Would it violate international human rights agreements or international law to deny employment to someone due to a medical condition?
Anyway, here's the article
http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/NewsRead.edy?DCD=A00107&SCD=DA35&newsid=01249686593033536
And here are the relevant bits.
이처럼 일부 원어민 교사에 의한 각종 범죄가 사회적 문제로 번지면서 정부가 회화지도를 할 수 있는 E-2 비자의 발급 요건을 강화해 오는 15일부터 시행에 들어간다.
법무부는 우선 대마 흡입 여부를 판단할 수 있는 카나비노이드 진단을 건강진단서 항목에 포함시키고, 마약 성분을 검사할 수 있는 병원을 일원화하기로 했다.
법무부 관계자는 �지난 2008년 마약류 검사항목을 일반적인 마약복용 여부를 확인할 수 있는 TEPE 등의 검사로 간소화했었는데 이번에 대마 검사를 다시 강화하고, 지정 병원제를 운영해서 마약 검사의 수도 늘릴 방침�이라고 말했다.
*pun intended |
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Steve_Rogers2008
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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so much for Canadians in Korea....  |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 12:02 am Post subject: |
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| What is the point of this? How likely is it that doing this will reduce crimes committed in Korea by E2 visa holders? My guess is, not likely at all. Waste of time and effort, and will just cause more problems for everybody involved. |
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tsteele
Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: |
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So, over two years, of the 20,000? or so English teachers, 274 committed crimes, a third of which were violent?
In a given population of 20,000 Koreans, how many, on average, commit crimes, and how many are violent? |
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Waluigi
Joined: 09 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| tiger fancini wrote: |
| What is the point of this? How likely is it that doing this will reduce crimes committed in Korea by E2 visa holders? My guess is, not likely at all. Waste of time and effort, and will just cause more problems for everybody involved. |
exactly. it is absolutely absurd, paranoid nonsense. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| It's a good move. Keep the drugs and the pot heads out of Korea! |
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egrog1717
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| It's a good move. Keep the drugs and the pot heads out of Korea! |
Because people couldn't stop using for two or three weeks before coming over so they could pass their test... |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Would it violate international human rights agreements or international law to deny employment to someone due to a medical condition? |
Employment would not be denied because of a medical condition. In this case it would be denied because of the presence of what is an illegal drug in your system.
Pot is not the only medication for medical conditions. As someone who wants to work abroad in countries where pot is often illegal...get an alternate prescription.
No human rights angle at all there....sorry. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| It's a good move. Keep the drugs and the pot heads out of Korea! |
Exactly. If you want to get high, bust out your 3,000 won and suck down 3 bottles of the green stuff! You'll be way more functional come morning time than a pot head. |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| No human rights angle at all there....sorry. |
I agree that it's not a human rights issue...but it's a bit silly to check for a drug that isn't even available here outside of very small and tight circles.
A. They're making the assumption that checking for marijuana is going to help reduce the incidents of crime in Korea. There is no correlation between marijuana use and the crimes they are trying to prevent. The only crime pot heads commit is smoking pot....and even if they test positive for it, 99% of the pot smokers here don't smoke in Korea.
B. I understand that the government wants to try and keep shady people out of Korea...every country wants less shady people...but it's like they forget that with 50,000 people there is going to be a certain percentage who commit crimes....it's like they want a 0% crime rate from the foreigners while the acceptable crime rate for Koreans is much higher. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:23 am Post subject: Re: MOJ: From July 15, E2 drug test will test for marijuana |
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| SleeplessInHannamdong wrote: |
| this and other changes to visa issuance requirements will be effective as of July 15 |
What other changes exactly? Anyone know?
| esteele wrote: |
| English teachers, 274 committed crimes, a third of which were violent |
I did slam my ruler down on the desk once. luckily the police weren't around. |
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Old fat expat
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Location: a caravan of dust, making for a windy prairie
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:30 am Post subject: |
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Discussions about pot won't be allowed on this website (unless your comments are anti-pot). Been there, done that.
Those that are going to say "but its the law", please read Lawrence Kohlberg regarding moral dilemmas.
As for the 'high rate' of criminal activity amongst NET's; pfffft. SORRY, statistics say otherwise.
My guess, embarrassment over the recent sexual offending by Korean teachers means we must once again be scapegoated.
Classic distraction tactics. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
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Not anti-pot at all.
But then the REALITY is that that particular substance is illegal in many countries.
Who are you old fat expat to say that a country has not right to legislated what drugs are legal or illegal?
Say opium is legal in country X. Should it be legal in your home country?
Hard argument to make and even if you believe it should be...that will not change the laws right.
So, in realistic terms...pot is illegal in Korea. Use it there and get caught...you go to jail. Have it in your system and it seems you can get denied a work visa.
You can grandstand all you want about morality and the validity of laws but that will not change the fact. |
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Old fat expat
Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Location: a caravan of dust, making for a windy prairie
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Who are you old fat expat to say that a country has not right to legislated what drugs are legal or illegal? |
Oh for f's sake Patrick. I never said they couldn't
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| Say opium is legal in country X |
Oh Jezz. (shakes head). Pot is NOT opium.
Look, let's not do the pot thing. It isn't worth your time or mine.
I'm more interested in "Why this again, and why now?" Statistics don't support it. Can we discuss this question? |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| Old fat expat wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Who are you old fat expat to say that a country has not right to legislated what drugs are legal or illegal? |
Oh for f's sake Patrick. I never said they couldn't
| Quote: |
| Say opium is legal in country X |
Oh Jezz. (shakes head). Pot is NOT opium.
Look, let's not do the pot thing. It isn't worth your time or mine.
I'm more interested in "Why this again, and why now?" Statistics don't support it. Can we discuss this question? |
because it's illegal |
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