Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I went to a large modern hospital this morning to find that the blood test is too comprehensive compared to the standard formal medical exam Koreans take for employment reasons. I went to Fatima hospital in Changwon which is the largest and most modern hospital in the area.

Yes, the foreigner exam is much more complicated than it is for Koreans so the doctor is having me find out on Monday if EPIK will take the Korean form with results that Korean employers get on Korean employees from Korean doctors.

They do not test the blood for all these things listed on the English EPIK medical exam and don't know what all those acronyms are. My Korean friend and doctor both tried to call EPIK and the Ministry of Education in Seoul this morning, but no one picks up the phones.

I got up super early for a big disappointment.


I am having second thoughts on teaching in Korea as the medical exams for foreigners are far more comprehensive than for Koreans which presents a barrier or hurdle in obtaining the work visa. If I were in America, they could test for all this as the EPIK medical form is definitely written by an American doctor. It might cost $500 US if I were in America without health insurance getting this exam which is a barrier in itself. This is a lot to ask of applicants who are not even yet employed. Typically jobs at home requiring these sorts of things pay for it or insurance takes care of most of the costs and it is no problem unless you are taking illegal drugs or have HIV.

Hopefully since I am in Korea, EPIK will take the Korean version of medical exam reports. I will inquire Monday. This is a shame things have to be unnecessarily difficult.

[cruisemonkey]

[mehamrick]

Hopefully they will take the standard medical check that korean teachers have to do every two years. If not then hell am I going to have to travel across the country to get a damn medical checkup?

[Bibbitybop]

Korean doctors suck. The ones mentioned in the OP were probably just being lazy.

[suneater]

I'm in New Zealand and have just had the EPIK medical (approx $200NZD!)...the various blood tests are all very common so I'm amazed at the substandard service provided by the Korean medical establishment...you'd think that EPIK would've ensured that such tests were readily available. Good luck with trying to swing the typical Korean medical - that just makes so much more sense.