Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dg611]

I sent this letter to the Times and the Chosun Ilbo...Doubt those conservative rags will print it....so...I'll just vent here



It's Only Fair

It is often said that there is an ever-widening rift between the rich the rest of Korean society. They use their influence to make things happen for their own good regardless of the inequity to the rest of society. The government has a responsibility to uphold the constitution and make sure that all of society is treated equally and that the laws of the country do not favor a particular group of people unfairly. A Korea Times article of August 10 outlined the government's plan to do just that by offering permanent residency visas to a few 'haves.' This visa plan helps these multimillion dollar investors "avoid the hassles of having to extend their visas" while ignoring the needs of the thousands of 'have not's' who can't afford the legal fees to fight this inequity through the courts.
President Roh, a former human rights lawyer, ran on a platform of equality and trying to mend regional enmity. It is easy to understand the the government wants to bring in foreign investors to bolster the Korean economy and portray their passion for globalization. But offering this 'convenience' to only to the rich simply drags the foreign commmunity in to this same morass of disparity that has been and is still prevalent in Korean culture. Currently,there are thousands of foreigners who have lived and worked in Korea for a number of years. These people experience the 'hassle' of having to renew visas every year or everytime they change jobs. There are foreigners married to Korean citizens with children of Korean birth (the author of this article included) who must also endure these hassles, even with the family (F2) visa, the foreigner must renew periodically and must have the F2 visa for several years before becoming eligible for permanent residency. These people have been waiting for the Korean government to reform the immigration laws to remove this 'hassle' from their lives and let them live as true "permanent residents" as in other developed nations. Now, for the sake of "70 or 80" wealthy foreigners, the government can change the immigration policies with unprecedented speed. It just goes to prove that money talks....and the rest of us still have to drive,bus or walk to immigration to renew our visas.

Perhaps some of those foreigner investors will have the opportunity to read these comments and will use their obviously considerable influence to insist the Korean government make the changes that can influence the lives of the thousands of foreigners who choose live, work and raise families in Korea.

[yangtheman]

[Cedar]

I couldn't agree more. It's so frustrating. After much thought and consideration I have decided I do NOT want to become a Korean in the legal sense anyway. However, I've been here most of my adult life and I just wish there was some easy way that I could be here and not have to work or study or marry a Korean or whatever, and even in any of those situations, I still have to visit immigration all the time. And while on the subject: Why the heck can't I change my visa status inside the country. Visa runs to Japan give money to the Japanese, the visa fee is the same if I get a visa here or there. So what is it? Indirect subsidy for Korean Air and Asiana and the Osaka economy? I don't see how changing a visa status outside Korea has any legitimacy. Heck even beaurocratic CHina lets you change your status in China.

[funplanet]

supposedly the gov stated last year that they would change the residency requirement from 12 years to 5 years beginning in 2005...in other words, you (technically) would be eligible for permanent residency (F-5 visa) after living here legally for only 5 years....but there is NO info on moj.go.kr about the F-5 visa or perm. residency....

it's simple....they don't want us here

[Real Reality]

funplanet wrote,
"it's simple....they don't want us here."

Pass the word.

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
"Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.

An official in the International Cooperation Division of Seoul City admitted, "The same complaints regarding visas, transportation, education, and environment are raised every year without being solved, due to the lack of cooperation from government agencies involved and their passive attitudes."
donga.com
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

[Wangja]

Most countries offer similar "economic migration" schemes. The US equivalent costs around 750,000 USD and in UK about 1 million sterling. There are different "prices" for different conutries.

[Real Reality]

How many ways can one gain permanent residency in the Republic of Korea?
How many ways can one gain permanent residency in the United States?

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Website provides you with information and directions necessary to apply for lawful permanent residence (LPR), or "green cards". You will have the opportunity to access information regarding ways to get a "green card". A "green card" gives you official immigration status (Lawful Permanent Residency) in the United states.

If you already know the specific path of immigration you wish to follow choose one of the following:
1. Immigration through a family member
2. Immigration through employment
-----Immigration under the national interest waiver for physicians in underserved areas
3. Immigration through investment
4. Immigration through the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (LIFE)
5. Immigration through the Diversity Lottery
6. Immigration through International adoption
7. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
8. Immigration through "The Registry" Provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act
9. Immigration as a "Special Immigrant"
10. Immigration through Country-Specific Adjustment
11. Adjusting to lawful permanent resident status as an asylee or refugee
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/residency/index.htm

[Real Reality]

Tue Aug 10, 2004 2:06 pm
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=25268

[dg611]

It seems the one thing i failed to mention in my letter and it has been mentioned in the replies (20/20 hindsight)...The economic visas that are offered in other countries are a supplement to the already existing laws that allow foreigners married to that country's citizens to become permanent residents. In the US, Canada, most of Europe (as far as I have heard) and even our neighbors in Japan can become "permanent legal residents' by marrying a citizen. Many countries also have laws that allow foreigners who have lived in a country for a long time to gain this status....I don't know about other countries...but I know in the US, the visa that a "permanent resident" gets does not give different priveledges according to how much money you have....My wife's legal resident alien card would be the same as the legal resident alien card for someone like perhaps Sting or Bono (not that i know they have one, just an example) or any of the plethora of famous people who call the US their 'second home.'

Point blank....Korean law is only favoring those who can put up the bucks. This is without regard for the contribution to society that those of us who actually "deserve" permanent residency have given. My wife is Korean, my child is Korean and American...I do not want to give up my US citizenship and I should not be forced to simply because I don't happen to have 5million dollars lying around.

BTW...the economic visa in the States is fairly recent...the legal residency status of foreign born spouses has been in place since pretty much the beginning of the Republic as it has been with most western countries (fairly recently in Japan).

[Hollywoodaction]

[funplanet]

sorry, but the US economic contributions for residency is not very recent...has been around for a looooooong time

[mithridates]

Maybe we'll get some rich exiles like they have in Paris now? The odd failed president or prime minister and his family, a reclusive writer, failed general or whatnot...that would be interesting. It's fun to try to jump up and look over the walls and try to see what they do inside their walled compounds. Maybe Korea wants to be a haven for rich recluses too.
They have to invest $500 000 in the stock market, I can imagine that:
"Yes, put me down for 100 000 shares of this company that sells this so called 'iced cream', I do enjoy the stuff after all...."

[funplanet]

5million to gain residency in Korea....the cost outweighs the benefits considering other countries (US, Canada, Ireland, etc) cost much less to get in and have more business opportunities, more foreigner friendly, less regulations, and basically offer better places to live....perhaps the Chinese and Japanese would take advantage but Korea very few N.Americans or Europeans would through good money after bad....

5 mill is way too much...

[dg611]

fun planet said

[funplanet]

I'd rather pay 50,000 USD for a small condominium in Dubai and get the residency visa for the UAE (actually considering it) it's a great deal considering it allows you to do business, get tax breaks, able to come and go as you please (only need to be in country a few days a year), travel to the Gulf states on your card, banking privacy, very little business regulation, enjoy the benefits of their entrepreneurial spirit......and enjoy life in a wonderful part of the world!!

you can't do any of that in Korea....no banking privacy, high taxes, an incredible maze of business regulations, too much interference from the chaebols, little, if none, entrepreneurism (where are the small business associations???? don't exist), too much gov intereference...and so on....

you can get into Panama for a 40,000 USD investment in their forest conservation program!!

so many more places to go that are much better and much safer to invest in...Korea is probably just satisfying all the calls for something but at the same time making it UNATTRACTIVE.....they do not want us here!!!!