Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sab2197]

I have a question I am afraid to ask, but I need an answer because this concern is the only thing keeping me from starting the application process. My concern has to do with the health check that is done shortly after arriving in South Korea. This is part of the work visa requirement, correct? Anyway, I'm not sure I want to ask such a sensitive question in an open forum, and since I'm a new user I won't be able to pm anyone. I have read as many of the health check-related posts that I could find and unfortunately none of them address my question. Where else could I go to find the answer to a private matter regarding health? Though by this point I'm pretty sure I know what would be done during a health check, feel free to share your own experiences. Thank you for your help.

[cabeza]

They test your blood and piss foe hiv and...not sure what else.
They xray your chest to check for TB.
They took my blood pressure too.

I dont know what your private problem is, but if it isn't checked with the above then i wouldnt worry.

2 dicks? Micro *beep*?

[Aine1979]

My medical test checked for HIV, TB and hepatitis. There was a drugs test, eye test (including color blindness), hearing test, my height and weight were checked, and I had a 30 second chat with a doctor. From what I hear, they're pretty standard.

[sab2197]

Thank you for your responses so far. I should pass just fine if that is all I'm subjected to. I have never used drugs and I do not have any blood borne illnesses or lung infections. What types of questions does the doc typically ask?

[young_clinton]

[Hokie21]

[Lucas]

The blood test covers several possible diseases, and the pee test covers a couple more.

Whatever your condition is - can it be detected in your home country via a blood test or pee test?

If the answer is yes, there is a possibility that they could detect it here too.

Although they should only test for what other posters have said, they can and sometimes do test for more. As you'll quickly understand when (if) you come to Korea there is no '1' answer. It'll depend on what hospital/which nurse/how you communicate what you want testing for/if the doctor just wants to stick his finger up your ass.... as to what you get!

And if they detect something... saying 'no no no' you shouldn't test for that may well not wash....

If it's a 'mental' issue - you can lie on your self-assessment form, but that is not always a good idea. Coming to a new country teaching for the first time/being away from family can cause lots of people to 'break down' again...

Also, if you have a mildly serious condition and then you lie and something happens here in Korea... Then what... Medical does not cover everything here and being in a Korean hospital and struggling to communicate with doctors is not a nice experience - then you'll get hit with a (possibly) big bill - or you might die!

^ Although this is blunt - only you know what your condition is. Be honest with yourself!

Plan for the best, expect the worst. That should be the motto for every ESL teacher in Korea!

[sab2197]

Thank-you for the great information and advice. At this point, I am comfortable enough to elaborate on my health issue. I would greatly welcome and appreciate your opinions and thoughts as to whether or not I should pursue a teaching career in South Korea.

It does have to do with mental health, but it is an extremely old issue from my past (12 years ago, to be exact) that I really don't feel is relevant to me any more, but that may not matter from what I've been reading so far. All of this occurred before I was even a legal adult, so really, in my own country, its stuff that couldn't even be used against me unless I had tried to join the military at some point. When I was a teenager I used to self injure and I still have scars from it. I'm just afraid they'll ask about them during the health screening. Yes, I did have a chaotic start in life but once I graduated high school, I got over a lot of that stuff. My adult years have been very happy and healthy ones. I would be very disappointed to learn that something that happened so long ago could still hold me back, but if it could get me sent back home, well, I guess that's something I'd better figure out now before I move half way across the world.

Thank-you again for your help.

[Hokie21]

[Lucas]

[Hokie21]

[sab2197]

Thanks for your help, everyone. This is all very good information to know I really appreciate all of your commentary.

[mayorhaggar]

If you don't think that it will affect your life in Korea, then don't admit to anything about your mental health in the past. If you admit to anything then you will probably be turned down. At the health check in Korea they will pretty definitely not ask you about your mental health, it will probably be done by a Korean doctor or nurse who doesn't speak much English or doesn't want to veer off the basic medical stuff required by immigration.

Mainly the physical exam is to prove you don't have HIV and don't have any drugs in your system.

[toddt82]

If someone was on an antidepressant medication at the time they had their health exam performed, would evidence of the drug show up in the results, like it does if someone is smoking marijuana at the time?

[wanderkind]