Korean Job Discussion Forums

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

I'm a newby to this forum and recently been looking for a teaching job in Korea since it appears there are lots of job offers. However, my problem is that I have the sealed university transcript, but I don't have the original degree certificate (diploma) because I lost it many years ago.

Based on this unfortunate fact, am I just sh*t out of luck in obtaining a job in Korea? Is there any solution to this?

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Yes you will need it. Cant you get a replacement?

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

What would be the best way to get it replaced? I inquired my university to get it replaced but got no response so far.

Any good suggestion or advice?

Riposte · Joined: 07 Feb 2006

No resposnse from Chuckecheese University?

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Try as many contacts at your uni until you find one who deals with re-issuance of academic diplomas and transcripts. Your diploma can be replaced, although there can be a charge for it.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Do a google search with the name of your college/university and the words "records", "registrar" or "replacement degree", and see what comes up.

Samantha · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Location: Jinan-dong Hwaseong

Can you physically go back to the registrars office at your uni? Or do you not live in the same town?

One of the things I found with Bureaucratic Bull Sh*t is that if they can play musical phone tag they will. When you call them especially during the summer it's a game of phone tag and pawning you off to someone else, same thing with E-mail. If you can actually go there and physically talk to them they can't pawn you off as easily.

You should be able to get a replacement copy with little hassle.

*Note you are going to go through some hassle getting the diploma replaced and then when you get offered and accept a position in Korea you are going to have to send them your brand new diploma. Can be unnerving. Don't worry you will get it back. I think I had mine returned within the first 3 days at work. Smile

dodgybarnet · Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:48 pm Post subject:

Same happened to me - My degree is somewhere "safe" and I have no idea where.

So, I called the University (Edinburgh) and they said (to paraphrase) "er, we dont send out copies of degrees; they are just ceremonial things you put in a frame. If a job wants clarification of your qualifications they are welcome to contact us and we can provide anything they need"

Well, that's fine in the west but clearly shite here.

So, I scanned my buddies degree, photoshopped it (even changing his 1st into my more lonely 2.1) and printed it off in colour on good paper. Now it still looks like a colour photocopy, so I went to the London Chamber of commerce and a very bored clerk looked at it (well the 5 copies I made), looked at my old student card, and with a sigh stamped all the copies for free (should have been 25 quid a pop, but I was lucky).

Then with said stamped "real fakes" I sent them to the Korean embassy with some cash and they stamped them (literally - they put postage stamps on them).

Et voila I have certified degree copies that work.

Isn't getting a job in Korea fun?

philthy · Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Location: Incheon

We seem to have 2 identical threads.

I was able to get a replacement for 40 dollars mailed to me from Western. I did it all online. There should be an option for transcripts, diplomas, whatever when you log into your school's website.

dodgybarnet · Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject:

We seem to have 2 identical threads.

Not surprising given the shenanigans that the Korean Immigration put us through. I posted in the first one, then found the next one and thought "oh, might as well stick my reply here too"

here should be an option for transcripts, diplomas, whatever when you log into your school's website.

Not all Unis do this. Maybe North American ones, but my one doesn't (Edinburgh is one of the best in the UK, and over 500 years old) mainly as things like transcripts are never ever used except if you are continuing your education at a different Uni. Degrees too: just decoration.

My question though is: What are they going to come up with next? Sealed transcripts is a bag of dumb -> so easy to fake: sign your fake transcripts and stamp it with a "certified copy stamp" bought at a stationary shop, then put it in an envelope that you also sign. Cunningly the signatures match!

Anyone with a bit of knowledge in computing can do it. (photoshop + stationary shop + printer = happiness)

The only true way is if they actually phone the Unis... BUT the Uni would probably never give such information over the phone as it's a breach of privacy.

I'm betting the next trick will be "please bring signed/sealed degree + signed/sealed transcripts + the dean of your university in person to vouch for you whilst you sing the korean national anthem hopping on one foot".