Korean Job Discussion Forums

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

I was walking into Singil Station and earlier today and was approached by 3 officials from immigration. They showed me their ID and what not and started asking to see my ARC, asking me if I taught English, etc. After about 2 or 3 minutes of this, I was able to go.

For those of you working privates, I'd advise you to work on your story so that, in any event you get stopped, you can walk away without any problems.

Anyone else bump into these dudes?

Homer · Guest

Bumbed into these dudes at a local bar when they raided there last week.

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

what part of town?

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Never had it happen to me in 8 years, but I don't teach privates so it isn't a worry for me.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

SweetLou & Homer:

Stay on deck for the next time someone from the pro-privates crowd claims what happened to you this past week never ever happens.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

In my sixth year and nothing similar has happened to me either. Maybe I don't look like an English teacher? Wink

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:46 am Post subject:

I pass through ��뿪 every morning. Thats one of the busiest stations in Seoul. Never seen these guys.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I guess some guys in some department of Korean immigration have the job of tracking down English teachers doing the nasty.

Would they hang out in subway stations and query random foreigners?

Seems far-fetched.

But, in this country of wasted manpower I would believe it.

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

i've been here for a year and a half and never had such an experience either, until today. i posted what i did for the benefit of those who aren't working on an E2 to get their ish together if they happen to have a similar experience to what i did.

i don't post enough on this board to get a kick out of writing bs and trying to get a rise out of people.....but its up to you what you choose to believe.

if you're here on a valid visa, then go about your business and dont give it a second thought. but for those of you who arent, maybe keep your books at your job for the next couple of weeks, just to be on the safe side. that's all i'm saying...i have nothing against privates or the people who work them.

better safe than sorry,

-SL

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

as a follow up, as i said, it happened at singil station, an economically depressed area, which is quite near to gurogongdan, which is where many of the imported se asian workers are employed.

and in light of this thread, there might just be a connection.

english teachers aren't the only ones who deal with immigration, eh? and while they're concentrating on racially profiling the 3D workers, why not check up on the westerners they see as well?

just a thought that occurred to me...

Cthulhu · Joined: 02 Feb 2003

Don't know about subway stations but I was once drinking at a downtown Busan bar with another guy a long, long time ago. We were approached by a couple of well dressed middle-aged guys who started talking to us about everything. Their English wasn't too shabby, which was a minor miracle in Busan bars at that time (especially for men) so we talked a little. Back then we weren't too concerned about immigration, or even guessing they might check up on us (I was between jobs anyway) so we answered some of their questions before blowing them off. They other guy mentioned the area where he worked and surprise--a few days later his hagwan was visited by immigration, and he was picked up for teaching without a visa. He was deported less than a week later.

I don't think immigration makes it a very high priority, but I don't doubt they spend at least a little time checking up on teachers from time to time--it is a large government agency.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Blind Willie · Joined: 05 May 2004

Some lady called up my hagwon a few months ago asking if I could do privates for her because the last teacher before me did as well.

Anyway, even though my boss said to go ahead, I told him that I'd only teach her if she registers as a student at the hagwon. Cuz, I aint gonna happily tie a noose around my neck for a few man won an hour..

Never heard from her again. And every time someone else asks me about privates, I always turn them down flat.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

they are not looking for teachers doing privates! they are just looking for any foreigners.. might get lucky..

HOMER.. do tell.. what bar? what part of town!

immigration officals? probably more like kids doing there military service! nothing else for them to do.. so they get sent to the subway to pick on foreigners..

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

Maybe they surf the ESLCafe and are only looking for you, SweetLou.