Korean Job Discussion Forums

bongshik83 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Location: Seoul

I was arrested a couple of months ago because i caused some damage to a car when i was under the influence of booze.

Anyway i got charged with criminal damage even though i never admitted anything. I payed my money to the owner of the car said sorry and all was forgotten about.

But recently my school is doing criminal checks on all employees, should i be worried?

It never went to court or anything but the cop said i will have a record of arrest...

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Yeah, I would think you should be worried. Don't know if anyone can help you out on this one.

Swampfox10mm · Joined: 24 Mar 2011

So go to the cops, get a criminal records check for yourself stating that it's for your job.

Los Angeloser · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Location: Korea

Normally, you wouldn't have to worry because you were not found guilty in a court of law but for some reason I got the feeling you told somebody at work about the situation and now they want to get rid of you. Next time don't tell anyone or better yet grow up and stop vandalizing property you mean drunk.

bongshik83 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Location: Seoul

why did u get that feeling, i never told anyone about it

Los Angeloser · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Location: Korea

maladict23 · Joined: 17 May 2011

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

bongshik83 · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Location: Seoul

your off on a rant of your own

i dont work for a hagwon in the first place and second everyone has to do a criminal record check in my school while IN KOREA. i dont have any record outside of here "mr know it all"

if u have nothing relevant to the question then i dont wanna read your judging im a know it all rants

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

highstreet · Joined: 13 Nov 2010

I know a person who got in trouble doing the same thing.

Took a cab home, was drunk, thought the cabby was overcharging him, kicked the cab door, went inside and fell asleep. Cabby called the cops but he wouldn't open the door or couldn't hear the door.

Anyways the next morning on his door is a note to call the police, he went they told him what happend. The cabby came, he paid the cash and that was it.

He was never formally arrested, and he's probably had like 10 different jobs since then so...I think you should be fine.

ontheway · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

rchristo10 · Joined: 14 Jul 2009

Should you be worried?

Absolutely not. You don't have a criminal record; though your fingerprints are likely in the system. In the Korean criminal system, only outstanding warrants/ convictions will matter in terms of your criminal record. And even if this minor infraction shows up on your record (through some newly adopted, likely US-led, bastardization of the criminal record system), it is not grounds to fire you for the simple reasons that 1) you were never tried and convicted (which in most cases frees you from having a Korean criminal record) and 2) you settled the matter out of court.

My recommendation: Relax and let them do the check, you should be fine. Now that your major f-up is behind you, focus on being a better teacher. Replace swimming in booze with learning how to conjugate simply verbs like 'pay' in your first post above. (Payed means slacken and should be used in reference to ropes or lines)

Additional info regarding #1 above. If you paid a fine, then most likely you were acting through the prosecutor's office, i.e. it never went to court. A prosecutor has the ability to take this to court and give you a record, but prosecutors do not have the ability to write up criminal records or adjudicate on your culpability. Though in the US an FBI check should show that you were arrested and fined, I believe that the Korean National System (likely due to the high density of population & high number of accusations/ infractions) only accounts for warrants and convictions, i.e. you don't have a record. I know it's only a belief, but it's a pretty strong one.

In terms of the cop's opinion, remember that few civil servants on his/ her level know anything about the legal system (esp. when it comes to foreigners). Their jobs are to serve, protect, and record, not judge or prophesy.

Sleep well.

DHC · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

If the KR police entered your arrest in the system, regardless of if you were formally charged, Immigration will not renew your visa.

Koreadays · Joined: 20 May 2008

if you are on an E2 then you should be worried. To renew your visa and contract with the school you need to present a criminal record check from your home country. I am not sure if a criminal check in korea is asked for or not? anyone know this?

in case of a F2 you should be sweet as they don't ask for a criminal check do they?

sorry I can't help more.