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Johnkim
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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 Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: BIG Mistake :-( |
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I applied for a job through Korvia. They are very professional I might add and would recommend them to anyone. But it appears honesty is not the best policy. I ticked the Medical condition box and divulged I suffer from depression. Management rejected my application.
Is it true that blood tests are conducted according to SMOE and EPIK policies? I should have lied. I have been taking meds for years and operate very independantly. I am a good teacher too, do any of you teachers at a school need a qualified teacher? I have letters of recommedation, a clean criminal record. etc. I was in Korea between 2000-2002, before a medical check became mandatory to work for a public school. My depression is manageable. A good chat over a coffee with a moderate thinker does the trick for me, as does going to Church.
It is just a shame that South Korea is not yet open to Western concepts of mental illness. Mine was drug induced, too much good music and drug taking in the nineties. Damn, I should have stuck to being a muso and not a teacher and done a Kurt Cobain...seriously, I am a good teacher. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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The sad thing is, there is a prejudice against people who take anti-depressants in all countries, not just Korea. The only exception is Korea is more backwards than other countries regarding anti-depressants.
I taught last year on my meds just fine. They are made because they work.
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| Is it true that blood tests are conducted according to SMOE and EPIK policies? |
I never heard this before. Are you saying they screen for things that hagwons don't screen for? Looks like I'm headed to Korea again next week and I'm going public school this time. There's no way in hell I'm gonna try to stop any meds cold turkey before the screening. I tried that last year and it wasn't pretty. I'll go home before I give up my sanity to meet their standards of the perfect teacher. Besides anti-depressants I'm overly healthy in both my diet and exercise.
The brain is an organ just like the heart. If you have a heart condition you take medication. If you have a mental condition you take medication. I can't see any difference. Korea needs to learn this, maybe it help their suicide problem.... |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I guess if you suffer from any mental disorder and you want to keep your contract then you had better just lie on your visa application. |
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Johnkim
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: none |
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I absolutely do not have a suicidal tendency. I love life. And yes I agree sometimes the body's organs don't operate properly. Anyway, the brain is the most complex organ of the body. Try telling that to some narrow minded people.
Life goes on and people need meds to stay on a balanced level playing field. Duh! |
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Johnkim
Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Back to the core of the question, it is true SMOE and EPIK conduct blood tests? It sounds a bit crazy. Need a good teacher? Hit me up. I have not been locked up in a mental asylum. At least I have a sense of humour. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: none |
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| Johnkim wrote: |
I absolutely do not have a suicidal tendency. I love life. And yes I agree sometimes the body's organs don't operate properly. Anyway, the brain is the most complex organ of the body. Try telling that to some narrow minded people.
Life goes on and people need meds to stay on a balanced level playing field. Duh! |
I agree 100% most people with mild depression or anxiety live completely normal lives. Its the individuals with more severe problems who don't take their meds who have the problems.
Stupid for a Visa to get rejected over something like that. Like I said, I guess its better to just lie. Seems to be the only way into that country if you have any health problems. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Johnkim wrote: |
| Back to the core of the question, it is true SMOE and EPIK conduct blood tests? It sounds a bit crazy. Need a good teacher? Hit me up. I have not been locked up in a mental asylum. At least I have a sense of humour. |
I thought everyone required blood tests? I accepted a position with a Hagwon or whatever you call it......its a private school and I'll be working evening hours and I know I'll be required to have a health check, so I was under the assumption a blood test would be in order?
I could be wrong though. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Johnkim wrote: |
| Back to the core of the question, it is true SMOE and EPIK conduct blood tests? |
"Blood tests" ? I thought it was a urine test, standard for getting a teaching visa. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| ironclad80 wrote: |
| Johnkim wrote: |
| Back to the core of the question, it is true SMOE and EPIK conduct blood tests? |
"Blood tests" ? I thought it was a urine test, standard for getting a teaching visa. |
I too was told Blood test. Testing for diseases such as HIV etc. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Then it's only for HIV. I wouldn't worry about it unless you're scared of needles  |
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Ishi
Joined: 22 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| So I'm wondering what your status is on this. I, too would like to teach in Korea, but I have depression and anxiety. I would rather not lie, but I would consider it if it is the only way in. I am taking three meds right now: Citalopram, Trazodone, and Alprazolam. Do you know if they would show up in the drug test? I'm also wondering if there are different stipulations for hagwons than there are for public schools? |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| . I am taking three meds right now: Citalopram, Trazodone, and Alprazolam. |
Jesus, don't tell them about those, for crying out loud. You WILL be 100% rejected immediately, no appeals.
The consensus is clear: DO NOT, EVER, mention ongoing medications for any Korean PS job. It is the abolute fastest way to NEVER work over here. It doesn't matter how mild they are, it doesn't matter what the details of your condition are, it doesn't matter if you are a good teacher or not.
Honesty may be a good policy in the West, but in Korea honesty needs to be balanced against the reality of the taboos in this culture. Mental illnesses of any kind are extremely suppressed and shameful here, even among many educated people.
Regarding the medical exam, I BELIEVE that they only do blood checks for specific things like HIV and narcotics. It is expensive to screen for every drug known to man. For my job I only had to do a urine test. Try to avoid EPIK if you can and try the provincial programs. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Ishi wrote: |
| So I'm wondering what your status is on this. I, too would like to teach in Korea, but I have depression and anxiety. I would rather not lie, but I would consider it if it is the only way in. I am taking three meds right now: Citalopram, Trazodone, and Alprazolam. Do you know if they would show up in the drug test? I'm also wondering if there are different stipulations for hagwons than there are for public schools? |
It doesn't matter if you're applying for a hagwon or PS. You need the same kind of visa to teach at either place and if you list taking those meds you might as well not even apply because immigration will reject you.
They are most certainly not testing for any of those meds. My boss sent me alone to the clinic for my test and alone to pick up the results. I can read Korean and there was a + - list for what you'd expect, cocaine, meth, opiates, and thc.
I also had the "I'd rather not lie attitude" but after being here I can see why it's better that I did. Anti-depressants are extremely taboo here. "I'm fine on my meds" isn't an excuse. Koreans that don't even speak English know the word "crazy" and if they know you take meds that's exactly what they'll think you are. |
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