Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mikefardell]

Does anyone know the penalty for working illegally (teaching - without a work Visa) in Korea if you are caught?

Does anyone body know of anyone who has been in this situation??

Thanks

Mike

[I_Am_Wrong]

umm...you're kicked out of the country, banned for five years, and fined 5 million won and, yes, it does happen.

[Phoenix]

I was working at two schools because my first school didn't have enough hours to make up my contracted ones and I just went about it with my best efforts, only to find out when immigration came to the 2nd place that it's entirely illegal.
They fined both schools one million won and myself half a million (though the director of the 2nd school paid all the fines as he took full responsibility for it), but thankfully I wasn't deported. I've now brushed up on my EFL dos and dont's regarding visas etc so it'll never happen again.

I would say, having gone through that experience, the answer is simple - don't do illegal work (but that's a personal recommendation and nothing to do with the thread)

[Derrek]

I have mentioned this story many times before, but here it is AGAIN:

Was working at a school one week before flying to Japan to get my E-2. Hadn't planned to do that, but they told me work or leave the apartment. I figured it was just one week -- what the heck -- I had been living in an apartment for a few weeks and had no pay for over a month.

Well, one of the recently removed teachers ratted and Immigration raided the school on my 2nd day of work there. The 5 guys showed up in two vans, which look like this:



I happened to walk out of my classroom to use the restroom while they were screaming at the owner. They grabbed my arm and pulled me into a room and sat me down. I thought they were irate parents or something -- had no idea they were immigration guys, as they wore regular slacks and normal shirts without sleeves. They slapped a piece of paper in front of my face with several questions, and demanded to see my E-2 and passport. The questions on the paper were all about my working hours, pay, how long I'd been there, etc.

When I asked him what the heck was going on, he said, "You teach-ee English-ee illegally!"

Well, the guys took me away to my apartment to get my passport. Of course, they ripped me up and down for not having my passport with me (who the heck carries their passport every day?).

They happened to hit a parked car near my home, and started driving away! Just then, an ajumma from a neighbor's house gave them the evil-eye, and they turned around and came back. Morons!

Well, they took my E-2 and I had a "trial" later that week that my boss and I, and another busted foreigner from the school had to report to. It was a little unnerving, because my boss still wanted me to come to work the next day, even though they told us point-blank that I couldn't!!!! Nutcase boss!!!!!!

At the trial, they spoken entirely in Korean. The guy behind the desk used no English at all. My boss lied through her teeth. She had told me she'd cover all fines, but then she said "no" after they dropped a 4 million-won fine on her. Also, they fined each of us foreigners 500,000 won (the minimum, I'm told). We also got "exit orders," which mean we had to leave Korea, but could come back the same day. This was essentially another 500,000 won fine which I had to pay, because I had to buy a ticket to Japan.

While we were sitting there, my boss informed me that she wasn't going to pay the fine. This is where I went ballistic, and screamed her head off in front of the immigration office. At that point, I was not understanding her English anyway, and figured I was deported no matter what. I told her that she'd better pay my fine or I'd tell them the truth about all of the things she lied about (she had lied that my busted co-worker had only been there 2 days, but he'd been there 5 months).

She paid my fine, and I was told that I could apply for a new E-2 elsewhere, however it MIGHT NOT get approved.

So I was sweating a lot when I waited to see if my new school would be able to get me an E-2, but with the help of a recruiter (who later lost/stole my degree, BTW) I got a new E-2.

Oh, and the new E-2 was only for 6 months -- not one year. The immigration guy was quite empowered and proud to tell me that I wasn't able to get a 1-year E-2 because, "You teach-ee English-ee illegally."

Funny thing is, that was the best thing that could have ever happened to me, because it led to this job.

So to that immigration official -- thank-you!

[tomwaits]

It varies case by case..The following are opinions so may be corrected:

Worst thing is to be caught with no E-2 AND no degree,,,(you cannot claim to be applying since you are not eligible.) Remeber the raids in Kangnam? I think teachers in this boat were deprted outright.

Next one (happened to me) is to be qualified but working at an unlicenced school.

Least serious (I think) is to have an E-2 and be doing something on the side.

Also depends HOW LONG you did it before getting caught. (and they will know.)


When I was caught the fine to me was 700 and also 1.5 to the school. I was given the exit order but allowed to return on a tourist. However they continually rejected the E-2 and eventually I left for China. I am wrong may be right ---5 year ban might be what they are doing. On the other hand others have come back,

Moral of all this---getting caught is not a good thing. Unless you are just playing around in which case you have good stories to tell at the pub back home.

[Rather_Dashing]

If you do not have a degree, you can work in Taiwan or China with a TESL certificate of some sort. Yes, the net pay is less (well, higher in Taiwan than in Korea, but no apartment, severance, plane ticket, higher cost of living, etc.) but at least you'll be doing TESL in Asia.

[itaewonguy]

fined.. with an exit order! you can return to korea once you have left the country!
if you pay the fine! if you dont.. you may be deported!
not to sure..

[John Henry]

Excuse me,

Is that black car in the above pic driving on the wrong side of the road?

[turtlepi1]

[Derrek]

[jajdude]

[paperbag princess]

on this note, my friend just found out that he was working at a school illegally, even though he has his E2 visa through them. they changed owners and didn't tell immigration. he left the school (new owners were awful) and they made him buy his LOR, then after he paid them, they signed the papers, but didn't do it properly (without the official stamp). anyway, when his new school called the old one, the old school said they weren't going to sign the papers b/c they're going to get a big fine if immigration finds out. is this possible? how can this country be so corrupt???

[Derrek]