Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tembo]

My hogwan informed me that all teachers will get physical exam, conducted by Korea National Health Insurance. Will consist of: chest x-ray, vitals and physical routine, bone density, Sonogram, EKG, and Blood and urine tests. They did it last year and I'm just wondering if others are requred to do this. Not too comfortable with the 'random x-ray' just for the heck of it.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

No. Absolute BS. Been here three years, never had to do it. Heard of others being forced to do it, but there is no legal basis for it.

[peppermint]

I know that I had to have one for a public school gig last year and was told it was required by law according to Gyeonggi do.

[FUBAR]

[rapier]

In Taiwan I was requierd to have a similar test, which included an AIDS test. they check for absolutely everything- a S.African teacher got deported for hepatitis while I was there.

[ajuma]

Guess you could opt out, but why would you? You're getting a free physical that would cost big bucks in most countries!

[ThePoet]

When I took this job, the contract sent to me in Canada to sign had a clause that stated:

"B. The instructor should be in good health and will submit a health condition check up list upon arrival. A physical check up in Korea is not expensive and can be arranged within a week of arriving in Korea if necessary."

When I got here I waited and waited for the physical check-up. It never occurred. Finally I went to my director know I wanted to opt-in to the 50/50 medical insurance and they signed me up immediately, but never enforced the check-up. They found me an English speaking doctor to go see for prescription refills and that was that.

So, in any case, yes, some hagwans do require medicals in the contract, but some don't really enforce it...maybe if I came off the plane looking like a leper they would have.

Poet

[captain kirk]

I've never had a physical check-up required and I've worked haggies in Korea since 96.
In that time I went to Taiwan twice and worked. There it's mandatory. Maybe because the climate is hotter? Tropical diseases from down south, brought in by other foreign workers?
Korea gets A LOT of foreign workers from down south, too.
China has a mandatory physical check-up requirement, I've heard. Maybe it's a money making thing, for the doctors and hospitals. Become routine income for them. Good for their economy. And became established that way.
Not here though.

[Wisco Kid]

I haven't been asked for one in Korea.
I know it is required by law to get an alien resident card in taiwan. A buddy of mine got the boot for THC showing up in his pee.

[ladyandthetramp]

I think it is required for those working at public schools (Koreans, too), but not at hakwons.

[Falstaff]

I was informed that those of us working for the Gyeonggi-do government are required to do a physical because the government requires it as a condition of employment, not because of insurance. I've already got my insurance card, but I haven't had the physical yet.

One of those things that would be nice to know about up front, but . . .

[gi66y]

I work at a hagwon and I was required to do it.

Those of you who have been here for years, have you been at the same school?

Or this may vary from place to place (I'm in Ilsan and subject to the Uijungboo immigration officials) because I was REQUIRED to do it as well as anyone else at my Hagwon who was on a second year contract at our school. So far five teachers have had it done in the last two years.

One teacher avoided taking it because they had recently been back home and may have had some chemicals in their system that would cause problems in Korea. But they came clean with the boss and while the boss wasn't happy about it he paid the fine for them.

I didn't mind doing it at all. Other than the swarm of Ajumas trying to push past me in line, but you get that trying to buy fast food.

It was comprehensive though. Height, weight, vision test, colour-blindness check, hearing check, chest x-ray, urine, and blood sample, but I didn't have to pay anything and the results were sent to the hagwon a few weeks later. So I found out that my cholesterol and blood-pressure were too high...thank you soju and galbi.

[Falstaff]

[I_Am_Wrong]

so...does anybody know if they do check for thc or not? I was required to have a full physical exam upon arrival because I work in a public school (I wasn't told this before I had left Canada). I completely cut out any marijuana a couple of weeks before I left because I knew it was culturally unacceptable. However, the night before my flight my friends easily convinced me to take a toke while I was severely drunk. My recruiter said that they would have the results of the physical the day after the exam...and I haven't been kicked out. I'm pretty worried about it still tho...cuz I'm really enjoying my job and I would never ever even consider smoking pot in Korea because of possible consequences (even if it is terrible contradictory considering the amount of drunkeness that is allowed here).

[eamo]