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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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Luthien
Joined: 04 May 2006 Location: Melb, AUS
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:30 am Post subject: Help-Advice on getting a job teaching |
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Hiyas! Found this wonderful forum not too long ago and have been interested in teaching Korea for a few years. I'm fairly young (19) and have visited Korea last year for a Taekwondo tournament in the Jincheon(sp) area and really enjoyed my time there.
Now I know that a degree is needed to be able to get the job; a requirement for visa's if I've remembered correctly, but heres the kicker. Does anyone know if exceptions are made for Korean born? I am a full blooded Korean but was adopted as a babe to some Aussie parents. I know I'm able to get a year or two visa pretty easily, but I'm not sure if that entitles me to work, or if there would be any decent jobs (ala teaching) available. I've had experience with teaching kids and adults (harking back to taking Taekwondo classes and training people up at work).
Also, would English being my first and only language make things really difficult? How do the Koreans view adoption/the adopted?
I'd really love the opportunity to get back over there and find out about my culture and if I can work up the courage see if I can find any family, so any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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Grotto

Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to Korea
Welcome to the Korean army
If you want to come to Korea as a Korean you are going to be shangheid into the army for your 3 year stint of abuse and insanity. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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You do need a degree before you can teach. Get yourself into a school, any major, and when you finish, doors will open. Being ethnic Korean, you might want to take classes in the language. There are lots of opportunities for bi-lingual people that are not open to other foreigners--and that pay very well.
I'll let other posters with more knowledge of the adoption issue address that.
Good luck...and get into school! |
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Yu_Bum_suk

Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think you can get out of military service if you can't speak Korean, but I'm not completely sure. You could come over and teach for sure, but the last thing you want to be is a gyopo conscript. Make sure you check any plans out with a lawyer first. |
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Luthien
Joined: 04 May 2006 Location: Melb, AUS
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:48 am Post subject: |
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So just for clarification, does anyone know if I became a citizen would I still need the degree for the actual job or does the degree relate to visa entry?
and any idea on the adoption views? Sorry to be a pain and thanks for the replies in-so-far |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:37 am Post subject: |
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http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html
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Koreans Overseas
(F-4)
■ For those who had Korean nationality in the past, but have lost it by acquiring the nationality of another country
-A certificate of Family Registry, or other certificates verifying that the applicant had Korean nationality in the past
-Documents verifying the date(month/year) when the applicant acquired the nationality of another country
-Documents verifying how the applicant has acquired the nationality of another country
■ For Immediate descendants, with the nationality of another country, of those who had Korean nationality in the past
-A certificate verifying that an immediate ascendant had Korean nationality in the past
-Documents verifying the date(month/year) when the applicant and his/her immediate ascendants acquired the nationality of another country
-A certificate verifying immediate family relations |
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Overseas Koreans
Who are Overseas Koreans?
Overseas Koreans are as follows;
-Those who have Korean nationality but have acquired permanent residency in another country or have long stayed overseas for permanent residency in another country, or
-Those who had Korean nationality in the past, but have acquired the nationality of another country, or
-Those who have acquired the nationality of another country, but either of whose parents or grandparents had Korean nationality in the past
Entry/Departure and Stay of Overseas Koreans
-Overseas Koreans who still keep Korean nationality can freely enter and depart from Korea, if they have a valid passport and a valid permanent resident card or an equivalent visa of another country
※ If they report domestic residency to a local or district Immigration office, they can engage in economic activities more conveniently
-However, Overseas Koreans who have lost Korean nationality are considered as foreigners, when coming into and out of Korea as well as staying in Korea.
but, If they change the status of stay to F-4 according to the "Overseas Koreans' Immigration Procedures and Legal Status" Act, they can be granted such preferential treatments as follows;
-The holders of a F-4 visa status can stay for up to two years and the period of stay is extendable by application
-The holders of a F-4 visa status can engage in almost all employment activities excluding unskilled manual labor and speculation activities
※ However, if they want to engage in professions, they must qualify in law, medicine, etc, in accordance with relevant Korean laws
If the holders of a F-4 visa status report domestic residency to a local or district Immigration office, they don't have to register with a local or district Immigration office as a foreigner |
So, I guess the main question to ask is did you ever have Korean nationality? I guess you did upon birth, yes? Therefore, you should be able to qualify for the F-4 visa. Doing the tracking down of paperwork may be a little difficult, but I'm sure it's possible if you are able to get in touch with the correct agencies.
It says that you can work most jobs, but many teaching jobs (private institutes, private/public schools, universities) will require you to have at least a bachelor's degree in sth. I think that's a requirement of the Ministry of Education and maybe has sth to do with each place's business license. Most gyopos I've taught with here had at least a bachelor's. Most people who teach English here have an E-2 visa, which requires the holder to be a native English speaker from the US, Can, UK, Australia, NZ, or South Africa and possess at least a bachelor's. Those are immigration rules. I don't think it'll be that easy for you to become a Korean citizen although you may want to talk with some Korean agencies about that. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm in agreement with the other posters. Getting a degree will open more doors for you, especially when it comes to teaching.
WRT the adoption thing, I think if you get a teaching job somewhere and decide to share that part of your life with your students, they may feel a little sorry for you as that tends to be the Korean way with that issue. Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much about it. |
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chrisOC2005
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think Grotto knows what he's talking about. Then again, neither do I with certainty, but I'm pretty sure that:
Getting an F-4 visa is your best bet (I tried to get one but can't find the documents: my mom's Korean). I think you can do anything a Korean does (with the exception of, for example, voting), come and go as you please (I think it's for four years?), work, etc. Try goal.or.kr (Global Overseas Adoptees Link) ... the founder is super nice and I've met adoptees from the States, and Germany and you can really network well. Oh, they were the ones who started the F-4 visa, specifically to make it easier for people like you to "come home."
Unless you're considered a Korean citizen by the Korean government, you don't have to go into the army. And I doubt that you're a citizen if you were adopted.
Chris
P.S. To scare you, there's also www.transracialabductees.org, but I was under the impression that the site (or maybe it was just one of the articles I read about the issue) was made by a Swede, and Swedes are just messed up. It is, however, an important angle on the discourse surrounding transnational/-racial adoption. |
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chrisOC2005
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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P.S. Would totally agree, though, that a B.A. is basically necessary for any real job. (Doing only private lessons, though, would be feasible.)
Chris |
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Luthien
Joined: 04 May 2006 Location: Melb, AUS
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks alot for that info, I'm going to have to start getting the docs together for one of those F-4 visa's. Great thing about it seems to be that it can be renewed indefinately.
That goal.or.kr site was very interesting, I'm still busy going through it.
Apart from teaching privately, what other sort of jobs/careers are there in Korea for a English speaker? Of course a goal would be to learn the language and try and find a translating job but I'm still learning!
Thanks alot for all the replies so far  |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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Luthien wrote: |
Thanks alot for that info, I'm going to have to start getting the docs together for one of those F-4 visa's. Great thing about it seems to be that it can be renewed indefinately.
That goal.or.kr site was very interesting, I'm still busy going through it.
Apart from teaching privately, what other sort of jobs/careers are there in Korea for a English speaker? Of course a goal would be to learn the language and try and find a translating job but I'm still learning!
Thanks alot for all the replies so far  |
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.... but unless you are "QUALIFIED (by the standards set by Immigration and/or the education board" to work in a school the only other real options are be unemployed or do D.D.D work.
IF you become bilingual they you have LOTS of options. If you have the correct business contacts back in the states you can become valuable.
Until you become fluent and fully bilingual OR get a degree in anything...
With an f4 you CAN teach privately, get a job as a factory worker, dish washer, street sweeper or some other menial task.
Good luck |
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