Korean Job Discussion Forums

zombiedog · Joined: 03 Oct 2011

Does anyone know how they test teachers for THC during the medical test?

is it blood test, urine, or hair follicle?

Thanks

rollo · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China

Spinal fluid!

uncompassed · Joined: 30 Oct 2011

When I was there a couple of years ago, it was urine. It was also a reeeallly touchy test--I somehow failed it the first time, yet haven't smoked in over three years--but I was also the first person to have to undergo the test in my town (and I passed it the second time, a week later).

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

ontheway · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

You should be aware that to be a legal teacher in Korea, you have to be registered with your local Education Office. To be registered there requires an ARC - Alien Registration Card.

You have to register at the Education Office within two weeks of your first day of teaching or you are not a legal teacher.

So, even though you have 90 days by Immigration policy to get an ARC (this is for all foreigners on all visas) the E2 rules at the Education Office mean that you only have two weeks to get your ARC. This means that you have to get your medical test done and your application filed and your card issued all within two weeks and not 90 days. So, your school should require this.

At a good school, you will be required to be tested within days of getting off the plane. If you fail the test (2 chances usually), you should have to pay your own airfare both ways. So, if you can't pass a drug test, you should not come to Korea as an E2 teacher.

Since many teachers fail to meet this deadline, it would seem that many schools just lie about the teacher's starting date. Others never register some of their teachers at all.