Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gbarchus]

I've been offered a job in Korea and they are asking me to send my original diploma from the States. Is this normal procedure? When I got a job at a Japanese university they asked for the same thing, but I refused. They gave me the job anyway. As far as I know, a university diploma cannot be replaced if lost. What are your thoughts, experiences?

Gale

[canuckistan]

Send them a notarized photocopy. Ideally, notarized by the Korean consulate closest to you. Hagwons and recruiters are notorious for "losing" original diplomas.
You can get a new diploma from your university, but it costs and takes time.

[gypsy trader]

Hello,
Last month I sent my original degree with as many color copies as I wanted certified and a B&W copy of my driver's license and passport to the nearest Korean consulate. They were sent by U.S. Priority mail with signature confirmation ($.75 extra, I think to know when it arrived and who signed for it) and I enclosed a prepaid U.S. Priority mail envelope with a letter stating what I wanted done with all the materials. It went out on Thursday and was back the following Tuesday. I will never, ever give my original diploma to anyone. Period. I've read too many stories...

Listed below are a few notes that were picked up off the web.
I suggest you call the consulate first to confirm the exact fees and documents they require for the process.
Good luck!
gt

The original university degree must be sent to the Korean consulate to get the notarized copy of the degree. It can be mailed or given in person to the nearest Korean consulate. The Korean Consulate will stamp the copied degree certificate with their official seal, verifying the authenticity of the diploma.
These Required documents are handled a little bit differently whether you send them by mail or go yourself to the Consulate:

Requirements by mail:
1 Resume
2 Letter requesting the degree confirmation (notarized degree)
3 Original and two photocopies of your university degree
4 Fee for degree confirmation (money order payable to the Korean Consulate General)
You should call the Consulate to check the exact fee before going there
5 A copy of the picture page in your passport (2 forms of Identification)
6 Self-Stamped Envelope (if requesting return in mail)

Requirements in person:
1 Resume
2 Original university degree
3 Forms of Identification (Passport, Driver's License, Etc.)
4 Degree Confirmation Fee (Notarized Diploma)

[PatrickSiheung]

I also sent a colored photocopy. The Korean consulate couldn't notarize it though. I had to get a lawyer to do that first. It took about 10 minutes for the lawyer to do it.

Once I had landed in Korea my directors had the nerve to again ask for the original. I laughed in their face and told them no way. What is it with these directors and recruiters? They must all have brain damage thinking anyone would part with their original degree.

So get a good photocopy and have a lawyer look at it. After that just give the copies to the Korean consulate. I didn't have to give the original to the consulate myself. Which is good because I didn't want to leave the degree with anyone.

[kangnamdragon]

[PatrickSiheung]

I should have said I couldn't get the consulate to notarize it FIRST. First I had to get a lawyer to do it. After that the consulate could also say the copy was legit. I had to see a lawyer first though. I remember because I first took it to the embassy and was pissed that the recruiter didn't tell me about the lawyer part and I had to make another trip to the city to find a one.

[Kristsoy]

my boss lost mine and paid to have it replaced, i wasnt happy about it at all and was very mad. It took only 20 mins to get a new one printed, but some schools dont have the machine that prints them, mine did.

One of the many reaons that i cant wait to leave korea.

Many recruiters wont care about ur degree, they will probably rip it or damage it in some way

[kangnamdragon]

[PatrickSiheung]

The Korean consulate in Ottawa, On Canada.

I went in there with my degree and the copies. He wouldn't notarize them. Said I had to see a lawyer first. Rather than argue I just left and found a lawyer. Cost me some money and another day but otherwise it wasn't a big deal.

The guy was really really rude. He wouldn't answer any of my questions. Everytime I went to the office he would just be playing some stupid card game on his computer (much like they do here!). Anyway, I couldn't tell you why, but that's what happened.

[Bunnymonster]

Its true, Korean embassies will not notarise documents they will authenticate notarised copies but not notarise them in the first place. I spent ages doing this being bounced between my lawyers, the London chamber of commerce and the Korean cnsulate in London before I finally got it all sorted out. I then didn't need it anyway.......

[canuckistan]

I took my original degree and photocopies of it to the Korean consulate in Montreal and for a small charge for stamps, the consul notarized the copies himself.

[kangnamdragon]

[Bunnymonster]

In the end the British chamber of commerce (though any lawyer registerred with the Korean Embassy/Consulate will do) had to make a copy which they signed to say was a true copy of my certificate. I then took them over to the embassy who took them away for a few days and gave them back with some funky stamp on to say that indeed they were true and fair copies and admissable in Korean law as replcaements for the originals. Lots of wasted time virtually no benefit....

[kangnamdragon]

I took my copy and original to the Seattle consulate. They looked at both, stamped the copy and I paid my two bucks. 5 minutes