Korean Job Discussion Forums

[always learning]

I just started teaching in Korea last month.

I have my ARC and thought I was finished with processing, but my hagwon gave me a form in hangeul tonight and said I need a local police check to teach at the hagwon (according to our Korean English teacher who was interpreting for the owner), but instructions were unclear and I asked her to translate the form for me.

Anyone familiar with this requirement?

Could it be an extra requirement for teaching children (I was given some unexpected children's classes recently; adults are supposed to be my teaching assignment)?

[shostahoosier]

If this is your first time working in Korea I dont think it's normal.

I did have to get one done when I renewed my contract though.

[always learning]

My recruiter said a second background check is required by the Ministry of Education in my case but uses a term, "private tutoring institute," which I'm unfamiliar with.

This was his response.

"I just checked with the ministry of education about this subject.
It sounds like a duplicate but it�s true that private tutoring institutes are required to include the local policy check report in their reports to the office of education when they hire foreign teachers. The private tutoring in Korea is one of nationwide agitating issues in Korea due to various issues including extra financial burden to households and once in a while early childhood sexual crimes, etc. And then, in addition to the immigration law under the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Education executes additional sanitary check by itself. "

[winterfall]

This might mean a Korean CBC. PS teachers got notice, we have go to one of the main district police offices and they're run a CBC on our ARC numbers. I have no idea why'd you'd have to do it though. Seeing as how you just got your card, I doubt your even in the system yet. It's supposedly free though, just a pain to do

[Ramen]

my assistant handed me a couple of consent forms to search for any criminal records both in korea and u.s. i'm with ps.

[ssuprnova]

I'm with a hagwon and when I first got here I remember having to sign something to the extent of consenting to a Korean police background check. The school took care of that for me, though, I just had to give them my John Hancock.

[Juregen]

[CentralCali]

[always learning]

While I was researching the issue, I was told that it is not uniformly applied all over S. Korea and to contact my local office.

When I contacted the Ministry of Education Office for my province I was told that I did not need a local criminal background check and that it was probably a hagwon requirement.

[always learning]

Update:

I received a copy of the 2010 provision today. Since the law applies to schools and hagwons with children and juveniles, teachers in adult settings would probably be unaware of the change.

As noted above, it should be relatively easy to obtain a local check.

Here's the applicable provision.

Article 45 (Checking and Confirmation of Employment of Ex-Offenders of Sex Offense)

(1) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family or the heads of relevant central administrative agencies may check and confirm whether any person convicted of a sex offense is employed by a child or juvenile-related educational institution, etc. in accordance with the following classification, directly or by referring to relevant institutions: <Amended by Act No. 9932, Jan. 18, 2010; Act No. 10260, Apr. 15, 2010>
1. The Minister of Education, Science and Technology: Kindergartens under paragraph (1) 1 of Article 44, schools under subparagraph 2 of the same paragraph, and private teaching institutes and teaching schools for children or juveniles under subparagraph 3 of the same paragraph;

[Lonewolf]

I guess it doesn't matter where you work. I work in a public school and they came and had me fill out the paperwork today. I guess it seems like a waste of time since I had done the paperwork to get my FBI Check with the Apostle. What ever makes them happy I suppose. I heard this all started because of the Korean woman ethics middle school teacher in Seoul. At least this is what my co-teacher stated and all teachers even Koreans have to do this now.