Korean Job Discussion Forums

[peterpan1110]

Hello all, I am new to the forum. I am a Korean American male born in the US that is not in the Korean Family Registry. I have never set foot on Korean soil my entire life and yet I am still required to fulfill military duty simply because I was born to Korean parents... I've been trying to get visa to get a job for the past six months to no avail. I have gone to my local consulate around five times already, but they said I will be unable to work because of my military duty. One of my parent's friend works at the Korean consulate, so we got to consult with her one on one and apparently, Korea has changed their laws, so it is now impossible for me to work in Korea unless I fulfill military obligations. I believe those born after May 4, 1988 are now forced into the military regardless if they are in the Korean family registry or not. I asked if I could renounce my Korean citizenship, but apparently the Korean government are no longer accepting applications for this procedure? Anybody hear about this?

Yes, I know it is all solved if I join the military for two years. But that is absolutely not an option for me because there is no way I am risking my life for a country I have never been to. And yes, I can just go to Korea on a tourist visa, but I don't really have the money to spend 2,000 dollars on airfare only to spend a month freelancing around Seoul. I am kind of upset because I have no other options. It appears that I will never be able to visit Korea until I retire or something, which is quite depressing. I must say though male gyopos have a raw deal. I feel like I have no rights. When you think about it, we are the only human beings banned from working in Korea. And before someone says it my obligation to serve the military, I disagree because I consider myself full American, so this military nonsense makes absolutely no sense to me.

Anyways, the new law all revolves around the birth date of May of 1988. According to the new law, anyone born after this date can no longer renounce citizenship to get military exemption? Am I getting this right? Since I am not able to get military exemption, I am also ineligible to get an F4 visa. The people at the consulate were telling me about this new rule, but my Korean is poor, so I could not fully understand the rule. So if someone could enlighten me with my situation or knows of any loopholes or whatnot so I can get work in Korea, then I would appreciate it very much. Thanks.

[CentralCali]

"Just come to Korea on a tourist visa" might not be the cure-all that you seem to think it is. For one thing, working at any job on a tourist visa is not looked on favorably by the authorities here. For another, there is still the possibility (might be slight, but still not nonexistent) of being conscripted before being allowed to leave the country. The reason for this particular law regarding dropping citizenship is because of past abuse to avoid military service. IIRC, another fun fact is that you may actually be on the family register, unknown to you and your parents, as another relative (such as grandfather) may have added you.

By the way, what you consider yourself and what the laws consider you are not always the same. Korea gets to set the laws for their citizens and the US gets to set the laws for theirs. That is how the issue of dual nationality arises: two countries have a claim, based on their laws, over the same individual. Dual nationality is not always a choice.

Also, you are not banned from working in South Korea. Nor are you banned from working somewhere else. That last may be a better option for you.

All may not be lost for you, however. Here is information on military service obligation from the Republic of Korea Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

[peterpan1110]

I appreciate the advice. I have no intentions of working on a tourist visa, so i have not even considered that. Also, the Korean Consulate lady told basically told me that I am unable from receiving a working visa of any sort. So, technically I am banned from working more or less. Ban may be a harsher word "unable", but that is just my expression of words because there is no hope for me at the moment.

90% of me has already given up on Korea, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any other suggestions. With you suggesting that I should try another country, I think it is time for me to just give up completely. So I guess I will just visit Korea for the first time when I am 75 and on a wheel chair oh well...

[CentralCali]

I'm fairly certain the lass meant that you can work after you perform the military service.

[peterpan1110]

I've read all of that. According to those rules, I am exempt from military obligations because I am not in the Korean Family Registry. I emailed the consulate about those rules but they said they were "outdated". Under new rules, I am not eligible for a visa. Thanks for the info though.

[peterpan1110]

[Chris.Quigley]

So anyone with Korean blood in them has to serve in the Korean military? Even if they are not Korean citizens? That seems bizarre.

[peterpan1110]

[Sticks]

That's odd.

I was born on 5 Aug 1988, apparently the military draft dodging law? is from 1989, or that's what I heard from the consulate people. My name isn't in the korean family registry. I've gotten my F4, landed in korea, no problems with immigration. waited a month or so because of difficulty seeing my Father's renouncement of citizenship on their system. After that I applied for my Registration of Overseas Korean residence card (ARC pretty much, looks a bit different), got it im the mail a few weeks ago. I'm working full time and studying part time perfectly fine.

Laws change around so much nobody has a clue anymore.

[wishfullthinkng]

[winterfall]

1. Are you sure your name's not on the hojuk? There's no reason for you to owe service unless your name is on it. Yes it is possible to get citizenship from your parents if they didn't give up Korean citizenship by the time you were born. In that case, the citizenship passed by blood. The same would happen if you had a kid with a Korean girl, the kid would have American citizenship.

2. There's a specific law that says that if you do in fact have dual citizenship. You have to choose one and renounce the other by the time you become a legal adult.

3. This is not new. If you owe service you can't get a job unless you show discharge papers.

4. Military obligation has a cut off age. I think over 30 you can't be drafted. And then you can apply for dual citizenship. If you decide to take the back door, completely your choice. Know that you WILL BE ostracized by society. Any exemption in military service is listed in your discharge papers. It also gives a reason if you did alternative service instead (Like a prison or subway guard)

Every korean employer is required by law to check if men did their service.

5. Do not listen to other posters who say come in on a different visa. Draft dodging is a very, very serious crime. They don't play around here. They WILL SEND YOU TO PRISON. After prison then you'll do service.

Here's a case that's happening now with a singer that ripped out 4 of his teeth so he could get a medical waiver to avoid the draft. He got off fairly light. Safe to say his career is over.

http://www.allkpop.com/2011/04/mc-mongs-draft-dodging-case-finally-comes-to-a-close

[pkang0202]

If you have a US green card, I believe you can get a waiver. Back when I had a Korean Passport, I got a waiver from the Korean embassy. They put a big stamp in your passport saying you are exempt from the military.

[peterpan1110]

[ssuprnova]

할 수없죠... 한국에서 일 하고싶으려면 군역 해야 해요

At the same time, the gyopo NETs I know here are treated rather poorly here (compared to Caucasian NETs).

[dmah1988]