Korean Job Discussion Forums

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

I am not a Korea hater in the least bit and I even have a Korean fiance. However, I am rather bothered with these new visa laws and I think they are causing problems rather than creating solutions. I have had a few friends who were interested in working in Korea and honestly I can't recommend it anymore. The cell phone rules, bank restricitons and now these current visa laws are really making me wonder why someone would want to work in Korea.

So what are you telling your friends and family about this? If your friends are interested in working in Korea, do you encoruage them? I have been telling my friends they should look elsewhere and tell them to think before they decide to purchase Korean products. Seriously, I am interested in seeing the reaction of the Korean government if foreigners decided that Korea is no longer worth the hassle.

whatever · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Location: Korea: More fun than jail.

Well, one of the first things that I tell them is that I work with a bunch of foreign snobs. Seriously. (Who often make Koreans look all the more friendly and reasonable...)

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

I tell them Korea is a xenophobic, small, piss ant, little, annoying, rude country. I then tell them that I like almost all of the Korean people I meet. The people are generally nice, the country (and I guess the culture) sucks.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

My mom has been here to visit me twice and she really enjoyed it.

And if any other friends or family came to visit me, I'd mostly be positive and show them a lot of the things I love about this country.

Generally I have a pretty solid view of Korea, but certain insidents (banking cards, E2 restrictions, 2002 tank accident, ect) piss me off to no end.

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

I tell them to come over and I'll help them see for themselves.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

"It's a great place to take a vacation from life, but don't work or bank here if you can help it"

hexagonsun · Joined: 28 Dec 2007 Location: ROK

Woah...What are these new cell phone rules? And bank restrictions? Please explain.

I must admit to the OP and everyone I suppose, it's been quite a frustrating experience just attempting to come over there. I'm in the process of getting my Visa #, THEN I have to do an interview at the consulate. It's been two weeks and Kimmi still doesn't have it. I'm a bit worried because I'm completely in limbo right now, but charging full steam ahead by gathering my supplies and collecting my head. The new regulations suck, we all know that. I did an unimaginable amount of running around gathering the documents and making sure I was doing everything right. I can understand how most of you already over there must think we're mad for jumping through so many hoops. I keep saying to myself it will be worth it (I hope).

What pisses me off the most is that Korea implemented the new regs with such haste and lack of information that it basically screws over EVERYONE. Potential teachers, recruiters, schools, parents who want to send there kids to school, but there aren't any teachers. It's a horrible cycle. Perhaps schools will think twice before treating their teachers like garbage with how difficult it is to even get a human being into the country now. One could only dream.

I could see a lot of people getting completely turned off by coming to Korea once these new regulations are in complete, full effect. FBI Checks, blood samples, retina scans, interrogation by water boarding, enemas, original diplomas, etc

Atavistic · Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

I like Korea, but these new regs are clearly racist or kyopos and people on F-whatevers would have to do the same. I am sick of dealing with "sorry, can't, foreigner" everywhere I turn, I am sick of being treated as less than human.

I'm not a masochist, and that's why I tell people not to come here.

Some people have told me, but you could marry your boyfriend and be an in F-series! Oh great, then I get to deal with being a Korean wife and smugly think, "Their racism doesn't apply to me!"

Yeah, right.

nateium · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

Chris Kwon · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Location: North Korea

Haven't had any problems here yet. An ajumma last week hooked me up at a restaurant for being a good lookin waegook Cool

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

When I talk to people back home about Korea it usually doesn't take too long before someone changes the subject.

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

I tell them that Korea has real freedom, not the fake kind in the USA. It's cool to buy a cold beer at 3 am and take in the room salon eye candy on the stroll to the PC cafe. Also, the cheap transportation is great.

Tigerlilly · Joined: 25 Oct 2006

Just want to say about the bank cards etc, I've not had any problems, so it could be worth checking at different banks or asking other teachers who go to various banks what they get.
I have an international bank card (maestro) with Nonhyup bank and it was no problem to get.
Also my friend just opened a brand new bank account last week (sorry I don't remember which bank, think it starts with an S) and was given there and then a Korean ATM card which can also be used in all stores to buy/pay with.
Maybe we were just lucky, but could be worth checking out other banks.