Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Phoenix264]

Hello everyone,

I really need advice from someone experienced with the Korean Visa system. In 2001 I experienced my worst nightmare as a teacher. I was told I would be working in Seoul only to be driven two and half hours out of Seoul, I had my passport taken from me, I wasn't paid what I was promised and I was told if I tried to leave I would be in big trouble because the directors husband was a gangster. Needless to say I didn't stick around and with the help of some wonderful expat teachers I fled the country. I've since wizened up and I want to return to Korea to teach.

Will this incident stop me from getting another E2 visa? What could the school have done? Could I be black marked and is it futile for me to try and return to teach in Korea?

I would dearly appreciate any advice.

Cheers,


Phoenix. ([email protected])

[ontheway]

Just look for a GOOD new job and apply. You should be fine. Make a deal and then apply for your E2 visa. Chances are there will be no problem. If there is, you'll find out before you come to Korea.

Good luck.

[Grotto]

wizened:wizen
One entry found for wizen.


Main Entry: 1wiz�en
Pronunciation: 'wi-z&n also 'wE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): wiz�ened; wiz�en�ing /'wiz-ni[ng] also 'wEz-; 'wi-z&n-i[ng] also 'wE-/
Etymology: Middle English wisenen, from Old English wisnian; akin to Old High German wesanEn to wither, Lithuanian vysti
intransitive verb : to become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled often as a result of aging or of failing vitality
transitive verb : to cause to wizen <a face wizened by age>

you may have some problems finding a job if your appearance has wizened up

I hope you meant you had wised up

You should have no problems seeking another job in Korea....chances of being blacklisted are minimal!

[Phoenix264]

Thank-you for the advice and sorry about the typo - I hope I have wised up or even wisened up or perhaps become a little wiser since my first and last trip to Korea. I hope I don't have any problems returning.

[sadsac]

It's been 5 years, Korean's memories don't extend that far back, unless of course you are Japanese.

[canuckistan]

If any school EVER takes your passport again, just call your embassy--your passport is the property of your gov't--if your school doesn't give it back to you within one hour of a terse phone call from the embassy they'll set the dogs loose on them, ie: the Korean police will show up at their door.

Passports are not to be screwed with.

[poet13]

Just to further what da' Mod said.
Dont let them keep ANY documents of yours. That would incude your ARC, your diploma, passport, or your bank book (my boss tried saying she needed it to make my deposits).

[Sina qua non]

As far as I have been able to learn regarding this type of situation.

When a worker on a visa leaves this country before the expiration of their contract (and visa), they are suppossedly barred from re-entry under the same type of employment visa for the duration of the originally issued visa.

If you tried to come back on a different E-2 visa at the beginning of 2002, for example, you would technically not be allowed to do so, until the time frame of your originally issued visa expired. After your orignially issued visa would have expired, you would then, from that time on be allowed to apply for and be granted a new E-2 visa with your new employer, without any legal concerns on anybody's part.

Don't worry about "blacklisting" threats or the like. The employers here (especially when the employer is also the sole owner of a "mom-and-pop" type set-up) have huge incentives to prevent a teacher from leaving, but they have few effective recourses if their teacher does indeed leave.

You should be good to go, to come back and get started again. By the way, I jumped ship mid-way through my contract due to the currency crisis in 1997, and returned in 2001 without a single question as to the legality of my actions.

I'd stay away from the same city you and the gangsters referred to, though.

[Phoenix264]

Thank you all very very much...I really appreciate all your advice.