Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bongflower]

I've read a lot of hype about foreigners getting busted for drugs at clubs, etc. As an occasional drug user, I'm curious about your own experiences with substances in Korea.

[peppermint]

y'know what, if you're paranoid about Americans, and wanting to do drugs here, just stay in Canada please. Korean drug laws are harsh, full stop.

[bongflower]

Please be gentle! I'm completely prepared not to do any drugs while I'm overseas. I'm just interested in people's personal experiences. For example, before I went to the Dominican Republic I had read that marijuana was virtually non-existent there. When I got there, it was very easy to procure it and many citizens weren't at all concerned about the consequences. And I really wish I hadn't asked about military bases - it's just a subject that seemed to be overlooked as I was reading.

So you know, these questions will not determine whether I come to Korea; that decision has already been made. I'm trying to collect information about the details of living there as I have never travelled to Korea or anywhere in Asia for that matter.

[peppermint]

Canadians get a lot of flak around here for being American-hating stoners, even though most of us aren't. In two posts, you manage to embody that sterotype. Trust me, when you're coming to live here, there are so many question that are more important than either of these.


Drugs are sort of available here, if you know where to look, but the governement makes a big fuss when they bust foreigners for it and that seems to happen on a fairly large scale at least once a year.

[bellum99]

If you are stupid enough to even think of coming here to do drugs..then stay home. They seem to catch more and more of those people every day. In truth...I see you at a bar in Seoul being offered drugs and not refusing in yet another sting operation. Can we say body cavity search.......I really think the drug users in Korea are morons.

[idealjetsam]

[bongflower]

peppermint - Thanks for your response. I definitely see how I fit the Canadian stereotype! While I wouldn't consider myself an anti-American stoner, I do smoke weed regularly and am opposed to American military power in sovereign countries. Judging by these responses I'd say it's definitely safer to stay away from the whole drug thing while in SK.

As for the NARC comment, I guess it was kind of dumb to ask about drugs in a forum!

[Sooke]

In fact, from what I understand, you can be prosecuted in Korea for consuming drugs in another country. Having drugs in your system, even if you have no drugs in your possession, is grounds for crimnal charges and ultimately deportation (for a foreigner.)

If you are a regular burner, and you come to Korea, even though you did not bring any drugs to Korea with you, you can go to jail if they find drugs in your system. It would be wise to stay away from any of the DJ clubs until it's out of your system, because police often close a bar down and make everyone do a pee test. Prople who haven't smoked in Korea but had drugs in their system have been prosecuted and deported.

A Welsh fella I met one time in Thailand told me a story of coming to teach in Korea. He got off the plane thursday, and went to his local bar on Friday with his newly met friends. The foreigners there (this was near Kyeongju apparently) were awash with little brown chunks of goodness, and this fact was well known by police. anyway, they did a sweep of the foreigner bar, and the Welsh dude, who smoked in Wales but never in Korea, got picked up with everyone else, and was charged. He was in a Korean jail cell for 6 weeks before being deported. He shared his cell with three Chinese guys who were in for some pretty serious crimes. They beat him daily (the chinese guys) and the Korean guards did nothing to stop them. He is not allowed to return to Korea for 5 years. To re-itterate, this is for having consumed drugs in a foreign country and having the residual traces of that drug in his system.

I heard that all E2 visa holders are now required to do a pee test upon enterting the country. As far as I know, this is just a rumour. Anybody have any confirmation on this?

[RACETRAITOR]

I arrived at a show in an unnamed club in Hongdae after a Japanese band had finished smoking a joint. And once when I was at WASP, the police showed up because they heard a rumour someone was smoking a joint right outside the club. So if you must smoke up, do it far far away from the venue you're at. Especially if it's the one I'm at.

Once I met some moronic Canadian hippie who was flashing around a thick wad of at least 500 000 won. He said he was going to find a place on a mountain somewhere and start growing marijuana. To this day I wish I'd knocked him down and taken his money.

[Big Mac]

I thought your concerns about American soldiers were a little strange. This one takes the cake. In Canada, pot is commonplace. In my discussions with Koreans on this topic, it seems to me that the majority of Koreans have never seen it or smelled it. Nor do they want to be anywhere near it. They're very innocent when it comes to stuff like this.

I'm pretty sure English teachers have been deported or put in jail in Korea for testing positive for marijuana use. Stay in Canada if pot is at the top of your list of things you care about.

So what's your next question? You do know you need a university degree to work in Korea? I hope so.

[riley]

Whooeee, I bet Bongflower will be writing posts about how great Korea is and how wonderful everyone is. Then within 3 months, he/she will be complaining/asking for help with the job. By month four, Bongflower will have disappeared in the middle of the night, leaving only a skunky aroma of unwashed body behind.
This is just my prediction.

[RACETRAITOR]

[bellum99]

You do know that smoking weed is compulsory in earning a degree in Canada? I hope so.[/quote]


Not at my university. Did you learn that fact at your university along with many other useless trivia. Mommy and Daddy should have saved their money and sent you to trade school.

[Sooke]

[khyber]

heard a story of a guy walking into a well known bar in busan with like a kilo of pot. Plunked it on the table and ask if anyone watned it for 2g or something like that...

This was about five years ago.