Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Cube]

..

[Derrek]

I imagine every case could be different, but I did just what you said about 2 months ago. I came in on a Tourist Visa from the USA -- one-way ticket.

Just in case, I had pre-purchased a RT ticket to Japan from a travel agent here in Seoul for about 3 weeks later. I brought a print-out of the itinerary with me, but immigrations never checked. I bought my Japan ticket from a travel agent in Korea via telephone -- much cheaper to buy a Japan ticket from inside Korea. She said I could cancel the ticket with no penalty (or maybe 20,000 won?) once I got here.

Once I got to Seoul immigrations at the airport, they asked why no return ticket, and I told them I had a ticket to fly to Japan for my E-2 about 3 weeks later (told them an exact date) on Korean Air, and they never even checked. So in theory, I guess I never needed the Japan ticket anyway. I cancelled it the next day.

Your airline/travel agent might question you -- just tell them the same story.

[mishlert]

My friend wanted to buy a one-way ticket to Korea from the USA and was told that he could not do it.
That said, I've flown out of European countries with my return ticket and have never gotten hassled (I'm American). When I arrived I was never asked for my ticket, only my passport which was stamped with a 1 month tourist visa.

[kimcheeking]

check this thread
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=8899

I smell a lock coming...

[Zyzyfer]

It's completely possible(I've done it a couple of times), but be prepared for the unexpected.

[camel96]

Here's my story from another thread... (I didn't change it Cube so some of this stuff may not be so relevant to your situation.)

I recently was nailed at the airport in Oz for only having a one way ticket to Korea. Korean Airlines said absolutely no way would they let me on the flight. In spite of the fact my boss already had an Asiana flight to Japan for the next day for me to go and pick up my visa. I had reservation numbers, ticket numbers and everything for the Asiana flight.
In the end I had to spend an hour racing around the airport, phoning Korea etc and they faxed through a copy of my Asiana ticket which got me on the flight - with 5 minutes to spare.
It's an experience no one wants to go through. Waterbaby is right. Pick up a ticket say on Korean airlines that flies to say Shanghai and make sure you arrange to stopover in Korea. You then either toss the Seoul to Shanghai leg or try and get a refund on it (You'd probably only get a few bucks back).
The other alternative IF you have time to kill which it sounds like you don't is to get a Thai Airways or Malaysian Airways flight one way to Korea and stopoff in one of those countries for a few days. This way you'll keep the Canadian airline guys happy because you have an onward ticket out of your destination (i.e Malaysia/Thailand). When you're leaving Thailand or Malaysia most likely they won't check onward tickets out of Korea. Kind of confusing I know. BUT the really officious airline staff are in the western countries. Whenever I fly out of Australia (also the US) now they ALWAYS check for either a visa or onward ticket out of my destination. ALWAYS!!!!!! Apparently the airlines get fined something like $10,000US for letting you onboard if you are going to breach the visa regulations of your destination.

On a side note I asked Asiana at the Osaka check in counter when I was flying back to Korea with an E-2 whether they let people on the flight without an onward ticket or a visa and she looked all surprised and said "Ohhhhh nooooooo!" in a really shocked voice.

People definitely do it and many don't have a problem...but it's a pretty big risk.

[The Cube]

:)

[camel96]

Nah I don't think you'll ever have your onward ticket checked at Incheon. Unless you look Bangadeshi or like a total deadbeat anyhow.
Generally these days the airlines will ensure that you fulfill the immigration requirements of the country you are flying to on that countries behalf. If they let you on board without an onward ticket when your destination country says it's a requirement then the airline is actually breaking the law and will be fined if they are caught. So they won't let you on the plane basically to protect their own pocket. If you can get onto your flight you'll most likely be fine once you get to Korean immigration because they will assume that the airline has already checked that you fulfill the entry requirements.
Good luck if you do go for it. Stick it to the man hey...?

[just because]

I'm coming in on a way ticket back to Korea early next year. I also am a little bit worried but I thought of a very cheap solution. I'm just going to buy a ferry ticket from the terminal here in Busan(about 90 000 won) before I go back to Australia and just show this fowarding ticket when I get here to immigration so I have evidence of planned departure.

[The Cube]

:)

[Tiger Beer]

I've come into Korea a multitude of different times on a one-way ticket.. or a roundtrip ticket to and back to Korea without any other issues ever. They've never ever even once asked me if I have an outward bound ticket out of here. (Although I think the law is you have to have one).

Twice in my life I've flown into countries without the outbound ticket (once to Philippines and once into Santiago Chile). Both times they made me buy a ticket at immigration by bringing me to a ticket agent. Both times I bought REFUNDABLE tickets to a nearby country that didn't have this law. (For Phil, I bought one to Hong Kong, for Chile I bought one to Paraguay). Immediately after I was in-country I cancelled my refundable ticket and they debited my credit card account back to what it was.

So, basic message, no worries and no problems. Just a minor inconvenience if they do make you buy an onward ticket so just make sure you have a credit card and its a 'refundable' onward ticket..

If you don't have any onward ticket and no credit card to buy one at immigration if they insist, then legally the law is that they just send you back on the next plane back to where you came from at the airline's expense. (Which is why occassionally the airlines are more concerned about onward tickets moreso than immigration asking about it).

[OiGirl]

I think the airlines are really concerned about this.

The airline agent, not Immigration, was very concerned about my visa when I was LEAVING Korea. Was she concerned that Air Canada would be responsable for my overstaying my visa?

[Tiger Beer]

[OiGirl]

[kangnamdragon]

I know an American who flew from Jakarta to Seoul with no visa and could not use a one-way ticket.