Korean Job Discussion Forums

antsea · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin

I seem to be locked out of my UK bank account and don't have access to my Korean one yet which leaves me a bit stuck. Someone is going to lend me money but I have a problem with receiving it as I don't have an ARC or my passport*

Western Union require a 'government issued id' which seems to parse as ARC, but do you know if a UK driving license would do it?

Do you know of any other options? I heard the UK embassy can arrange this but don't know anything about how it works. They will probably be closed for the holiday.

*My employer has it. Yes, I know it has come back to bite me that my employer has it, but it was hard to avoid at the time.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Jack_Sarang · Joined: 13 Aug 2006

Get your goddamn passport back you spineless idiot. Your employer has no right to ever hold your passport. If they insist, you file a police report that it has been stolen by your employer. If they still refuse to release it, then you take that police report to your nearest consulate and get a new passport and find a new job.

Any employer who holds your passport hostage is not worth working for.

antsea · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin

Don't call me a spineless idiot. WTF is it with this forum and people all wanting to rush in and act hard?

I work for a big company that have apparently sent it to head office and will get it back next month. This happened to all the other teachers. Yes it's bullshit, they probably design their policy like that holding it hostage for a month.

I have tried to get it back before now and been told it's out of their hands.

So I should tell my cool line manager in my office that I have to go through that I'm filing a police report then, or try to get another job with little money and a bad job market?

UlsanBoy · Joined: 19 Jun 2011

Panic and fear makes people agressive, relax, you're not dead, and you won't stave.

first thing to do is go to a Korean police station and explain your problem. Don''t be afraid. The Korean Police are very good and willl be able to help you. Just stay cool and get it fixed soon ok Razz

The most important thing is to relax and stay calm. You made a mistake. That can happen to any of us. You will be ok, just don't panic. Go to the police.

antsea · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin

Yes, you're right it was due to fear. I do think this forum takes the cake though. Sorry Jack Sarang, but even if you're trying to make people think and take action, it's very abrasive to give advice in that tone when you don't know the details.

jamesd · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Location: Korea

r122925 · Joined: 02 Jun 2011

I'll let the others give you advice about your passport, but it is possible to reveive a Western Union transfer with no ID. They will give the sender a special code number and if the sender gives the number to you you can claim the cash with no ID. They do this specifically for situations when wallet/id/passport are lost or stolen at the same time. You're certainly not the first person to to be in this situation.

antsea · Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin

Thanks r122925. That's a good idea. I think my bank account's unlocked anyway but worth knowing.

I really think the idea of going to the police is like all you got's a hammer and see everything as a nail.

I know I will get my passport back in a couple of weeks...if not then hell yeh I'll call the embassy. Next year when I have some savings, it might well be good to insist on never giving my passport up, but atm if I use the nuclear option I might well end up at a shit hagwon. Which I'm not at the moment.