Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stan Rogers]

[kardisa]

Am I the only person who hasn't had another health check since arriving in Korea? I've been here for 3 years, and the only one I've had was the one before receiving my original ARC. I was at a hagwon for 2 years and am now at a government school, but I do find it odd that I've never been called up for a 2nd check

[ayahyaha]

Thanks for the info, everybody. So it's required for the national health insurance every two years, fine.

The school could have easily told us that.

The greatest annoyance is that my contract is up very soon and I don't see a need for this at all.

[falldownstumble]

Yeah, thanks for the helpful replies. I've actually heard of the insurance requirement before, and I had to do it at a previous job. But they explained it to us with the actual facts immediately and clearly, so I knew exactly why and how it was happening. Fair enough.

Why this employer is refusing to do that, and demanding we make a 2nd trip to pick up a document when it could just as well be emailed, is the frustrating part.

[ThingsComeAround]

Sounds to me like its "encouraged volunteering". It is not required for insurance (why would they increase spending when they already know how healthy you are from the visa health check) and if it isn't in your contract how can your company penalize you for not doing it?

You take that test and the office will know the details of your medical condition.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I've had two different public schools ask me to do these tests in the past. In both cases I never did them, and they never followed up.

[Stan Rogers]

My co worker was given 6 months to do the second check after he had his first check up for that year.

They just wanted to do a more detailed check up and everything turned out fine.

It is a requirement by the National Health Insurance. I'm sure most schools follow the rules but I'm also sure there are others who can't be bothered.

Wether or not you or your employer care about health; or following the law, is entirely your own business.

[Stan Rogers]

My co worker was given 6 months to do the second check after he had his first check up for that year.

They just wanted to do a more detailed check up and everything turned out fine.

It is a requirement by the National Health Insurance. I'm sure most schools follow the rules but I'm also sure there are others who can't be bothered.

Wether or not you or your employer care about health; or following the law, is entirely your own business.

[nora]

When you do it, you can put your own address down on it. Your employer won't know anything about it.

They don't test for drugs.

The test is much more comprehensive than the visa test, at least in my experience.

For this one, they do height, weight, BP, vision test, hearing test, X-Ray, blood work, and urine. Also, I had an interview about my lifestyle - drinking, smoking, exercise, do I practice safe sex, et cetera.

Afterwards, I was called back in for a followup on the results - exercise more, eat less, don't play with it, it's not a toy, the usual stuff.

I don't know the time limit, but at my old job, they told me I had to get it done and I said no thanks (they didn't explain what it was for, just that it was free and I should do it), and my contract expired and I left the country for a few months, so it wasn't a huge deal. If you're skipping town soon, you can probably get away with it, but if you're sticking around, get 'r done!

[big_fella1]

[schwa]

With public schools now, the results are either sent to your home address or in a sealed envelope to your desk at work. Its regarded as private. (Not sure what happens if tests turn up something dire.)

K-teachers tell me about not that long ago when everyone's results were posted on an office bulletin board for public chatter.

[12ax7]

Nearly 20 year here, and the only health checks I've had are the ones I get done every 6 months or so on my own. They gave us some form printed on some cheap paper once that we were supposed to bring to a doctor, but that was years ago. I didn't get it done, and nothing came of it.

[jlw1127]

Hey everyone,

I was just told I have to attend a "mandatory health check". This will be the 3rd one in 16 months of employment. I just had my most recent one in July. I am supposed to go to the free clinic Nov 8 or 9. My contract exprires Nov 28. I dont see the point.

Is this really necessary? What is the true motivation here? Do I have to do it? What are the penalties? And has anyone ever turned up any actual documentation with the exact policy?

I am inclined to say thanks but no thanks and just leave when its all said and done. However, I am concerned the school will try to not pay my severence or airfare.

Any info would be helpful.

[earthquakez]

[lemak]

Last year I was "required" to do one of these checks with a mere 10 days left on my contract. They said it was Education Department policy that all hagwon workers undertake the check. Interestingly they wouldn't have even gotten the results back until after my contract was done and I was out of the country. They even wanted me to foot the bill. Only after a 30 minute "discussion" about how pointless and retarded the whole thing was and I wasn't gonna do the thing that their synapses started working and they finally relented.