Korean Job Discussion Forums

[littlemisssmiles]

I am trying to fill out the self assessment of my health, and am not sure how truthful I should be.

Have I ever caught infectious diseases? - Yes, I've had colds, the flu, strep throat, chicken pox...

Have I ever taken any Narcotic drug? - Yes, I take over the counter medication with codeine for migraines...

Have you ever received treatment for mental/neurotic/emotional disorder? - I have had symptoms of anxiety and depression, and have been treated for them. However, I have never been labeled as having a disorder...

The questions seem quite ridiculous to me, and also an invasion of privacy. As I have no idea how these responses and going to be used, I am unsure how to respond.

Any advice?

Thanks

Lindsay

[idonojacs]

I agree completely.

It all depends how much you want the job.

My bet is that if you answer truthfully, there's a good chance you will be denied. Or maybe they would make you drive to the Korean consulate nearest to your home (back home) to answer questions.

On the other hand, if we all answer truthfully, and we all get denied, then maybe something would change.

Apparently the Korean's answer to rules that don't work is to just lie.

Should we do the same?

If the early applicants were to answer truthfully, maybe we could get the Korean authorities to face reality. My advice is to answer truthfully to every possible relevant incident and in as much detail as you believe necessary.

You have the form; is there any room for explanations, details? How much space is there?

Aside from that, these questions are ineffective -- what illegal drug user or addict is going to answer truthfully? Beyond that, they are an invasion of privacy of medical care and an insult, as are most of the other new rules.

While I am not saying most Koreans are overtly racist towards Westerners, I suspect they will be interpreted through Korean standards. And from what I have seen, Koreans believe Koreans never get sick and never have mental problems. And they don't seem to believe in using pain killers during dentistry, so you can imagine their views on codeine. Every time I asked my Korean doctor for codeine cough syrup I was answered with a silent stare. I had the feeling he viewed me as some sort of drug abusing deviant.

Another problem is that if you have used things like codeine or valium (which a doctor gave me as a mild sleeping pill), and you ask for a new prescription here, or bring some with you, and you have not answered truthfully, you could be in BIG trouble.

The same goes for your medical history, I would imagine. I left out one very old medical incident involving not being able to take a certain type of OTC medicine when I first came here, and I have since regretted it, because every time I go to the doctor they wind up mixed into those little unlabeled envelopes.

Now that I have offered my comments to you, I would like to offer a question to any Korean officials who might be reading this:

What user of illegal drugs such as cocaine, crack, heroin or morphine is going to answer truthfully to this question? And why would they want to come to Korea?

[MarionG]

My advice would be a bit different than the above advice.

Have you ever had an infectious disease ...even if there are just boxes for yes and no, I would clearly print "ONLY COLDS AND FLU"

For ever taken narcotic drugs, again, clearly printing "ONLY FROM DOCTOR," or simply "NO"

Have you ever received treatment for mental, neurotic, emotional disorder? Again, clearly printing "NO, I HAVE NOT"

The attitude toward any emotional, mental, nervous, neurotic disorder in Korea is Draconian and about two centuries out of date. Only you can judge whether you feel you are emotionally healthy enough to spend a year in Korea. If you believe the answer to THAT question is yes, then the answer to THEIR question is no.

Any admission of narcotic drug use, even if prescribed by a doctor or recommended by a doctor, will probably label you a suspected drug user to Koreans.

While honesty is almost always the best policy, I do not agree with the prior poster who wrote:

"Another problem is that if you have used things like codeine or valium (which a doctor gave me as a mild sleeping pill), and you ask for a new prescription here, or bring some with you, and you have not answered truthfully, you could be in BIG trouble."

This presumes that Immigration will be combing through medical records. This presumes that immigration believes that when medications are prescribed by a Korean doctor you are labeled a druggie. They can't even find our needed records, and certainly don't have time to go on a sleeping pill witch hunt.

If a medication that had some narcotic in it was found in your luggage, AS LONG AS pills are in a prescription bottle with your name on it, you can't get in trouble for possession of it. As far as getting in trouble for lying, your very reasonable response to that would be "You mean you wanted to know about PRESCRIPTION drugs?" with your eyebrows raised in disbelief...

Nothing will make you entirely safe from Korean strangeness, but the prior poster was giving you advice that would probably keep you permanently out of Korea... I think that his concern about "BIG" trouble is pretty out there...

[alinkorea]

colds and flu are not diseases. The answer to all the questions on the medical form is no. They don't want to know if you've ever had a cold, taken paracetamol or felt a bit sad.

[MarionG]

OK, I'll agree with answers that are No, No, No, and No.

But I'm really curious AlinKorea, why are colds and flu not diseases? Do you mean that "disease" is more accurate for more serious things? IF that's what you mean, I'll agree with you.

But I've notices Korean doctors call EVERYTHING disease...you have skinned knee disease etc.

[bassexpander]

They don't know how to ask you the right questions.

Answer all of them, "NO" and you'll be fine. Don't feel the least bit wrong about doing it, either. What you write may be misunderstood.

There is nothing scary in your medical history.

It's actually a good thing you got Chicken Pox out of the way.

[Octavius Hite]

People, its like when you go to the airport and they give you the customs declaration form.

The Golden Rule: NEVER DECLARE ANYTHING

NEVER


The same goes for here. If you check yes and try explain codeine they will throw your ass out the door faster than you can say sparkling.

Mumps, chicken pox, etc etc etc. Say nothing.


Say nothing and just get a job.

[crusher_of_heads]

Octavius, you are correct, sir.

Hear no evil.

Speak no evil.

Korea Spitting!

[zizi]

[Octavius Hite]

DON"T WRITE ANYTHING!

If you write it there is the chance they will "find" a reason not to give you a visa.

If you don't write it and they catch you with the physical (which is unlikely) they may or may not give you a visa (you could always lie and say you forgot, stupid waygookin, lol).

If you don't tell them and they don't find it in the exam (very likely since they seem to be looking for "the dope" and "the AIDS") you are totally kool.

Again people: NEVER DECLARE ANYTHING.

Honesty in the situation is the same as stupidity.

Don't give them a reason.

[agentX]

[Lizara]

I agree with the people saying don't say yes to anything. Immigration can't keep track of your transcripts and degree; they're almost certainly not going to look at your medical report beyond stamping it if you say no to every question, and I have firsthand experience with Koreans' completely archaic attitude toward mental illnesses and some Western medicines.

[poet13]

The answers to the 3 question, in order, should be exactly....
NO,
NO,
and,
NO.

[cruisemonkey]

Just like an 'Entry Card' on an international flight, the answer to all questions is "No."

[idonojacs]

cruisemonkey: