Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CorroC]

I'm wondering if any seasoned expat vets can help me out with my situation.
I won't hold anything back here: Had a wonderful job in Seoul. 8 months in, I began to have a really rough bout of anxiety out of nowhere (had previous problems with this but thought I had it pegged). After therapy, doctors, etc., I couldn't take the mixed advice I was given, and I had to go home. I left the school in a really bad state, felt really bad about situation.. My contract stipulated a 30 day notice before leaving, a length of time I just couldn't handle. My wonjangnim, although saddened to see a good teacher (which I was) in a rough state, was quite angry and did not give my letter of release. My contract was supposed to end this August.

I've seen my hometown doc who nailed my problems head on. I want to come back to Korea. So:

1) I think my Visa got cancelled when I went through the airport. But I read above that you cannot go back until the first contract is done..
What I'm asking is: would I have to wait until after August to get a job?

2) Is there a "blacklist"?

3) What does the consulate know about me now? Am I able to go back, feigning that I have never been to Korea? But if I try again, won't they see my cancelled-out VISA?

4) I could get a doctor's note to send to school or consulate. Would this make things easier?

It's a lot of questions, I know, but I appreciate any response! Cheers.

[RMNC]

I'm not a visa genius, hopefully Tom will show up, but in the meantime to cull your worries:

1. I think so, but I could be wrong, it may be no time at all. There are similar subjects to this one in the last few pages of this forum.
2. People threaten it, but it's unlikely it actually exists, or that you'd end up on one for what you did. Hell, westerners can barely manage one of these sites, Koreans are so disorganized that I can't imagine it being maintained.
3. I think it doesn't matter to them whether or not you quit your job, only that you were once deemed fit and able to move there. Again, I may be wrong about it, but people run and go back occasionally, so it's possible to do.
4. If it were me I would probably keep the whole "mental health problem" thing under wraps, as that will probably get you denied by everyone important.

That said, are you sure you can handle it? I mean this in the most sensitive way, but it takes a certain type of guts to handle living somewhere alien, and if you are prone to randomly freaking out for no reason at all, can you say that this same thing won't happen again? Essentially, you need to stop being crazy, forever. Otherwise, employers aren't going to deal with you.

[CorroC]

I appreciate the advice and won't take offense. It's an appropriate question, and one in which I can say that I believe I have a handle on things.

1. I'll check the forums.
2. Good to know.
3. I'm just picturing having a job lined up with an employer directly, and going into the consulate to fill out all the forms and them saying my name, saying they have me on file that I was there for a contract until August, how am I back in Canada?

[RangerMcGreggor]

There is a "black list" among some recruiters and Hagwons, but it is easy to get removed and not everyone uses it IIRC

[CorroC]

I did not use a recruiter I went straight to a hagwon (Kids College)

[Hokie21]

How is he supposed to keep the mental health issue under wraps? He's most likely taking a medication for it, probably a benzo like Xanax. He'll be required to take a health check and blood work and that will show up.

[ttompatz]

[liveinkorea316]

[Hokie21]

[CorroC]

TTompatz, thank you oh so much for the information.

1) I definitely handed in my ARC card at the airport when I left

2) I was working at a Kid's College; if I go back clearly I will look for a different chain of individual schools ... I was in central Seoul and would like to go back to that area (obviously not same neighbourhood). But maybe I should look to go to Busan...

3) I did not commit any criminal act. So I guess then I shouldn't lie to the consulate by saying I've never been to Korea before, eh?

4) Won't say anything bout mental health issues, although interestingly enough I straight up told my director what I was going through/how I was feeling, and she understood. She said, in her opinion at least, Koreans generally know about mental health issues; the stigma is slowly disappearing. Unlike 15 years ago, where they didn't know a thing. Her words.

5) Regarding medication, yes I would stop taking my medication a few days before test, and regardless, as I have researched extensively on these forums, the health test will only "sound the alarm" if opiates are found in blood, not benzo's.

Anyways Ttompatz I really appreciate the input, and hope that you might be able to answer some further questions down the line if I have any.

Cheers

[Swampfox10mm]

Since you suffered from anxiety, and are taking medication for it, don't you think it might be a good idea to stay away from Korea? After all, you would have to lie about your mental difficulties to get a job here.

And what really has me concerned is that you suffered from it while working at a "good job" before. What will happen if you end up in a bad job?

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Yeah, no use lying about your previous visa status. They(the consulate) can easily find out that you worked in Korea before. Also, do not put down that you have(or had) any mental health issues, that would be an automatic rejection. But I agree with a previous poster, why the heck do you want to come back to Korea if you suffer from anxiety. This place is a pressure cooker to someone like that.