Korean Job Discussion Forums

trailrunner · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Location: Cape Town

Okay, so I have a criminal record dating back 20 years ago and looking at working in Korea. The incident was for a driving related misdemeanor and I have been offered a job in a place with a specific agency regardless of the record i.e they can get me in. I am seen as an asset to there organisation and the fact that something happened in my youth seems to be overlooked if you can get it right.

Here's the question... the agency that has bust there butt to get me in, has been mentioned on this site as reputeable but have offered me a what sounds like a questionable job, what advise please? do I accept a half baked position just because I created a situation 20 years ago or is there an alternative option? I dont want to be held over a barrel. all advice welcome

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

My immediate thought is that unless the driving related misdemenour is for DUI - it may not hurt your chances with any employer - There are two different factors at play here - one is finding an employer who is OK with it - the other is getting through the immigration process - So unless your record is for a serious offence - or is in any way drug/alcohol or sex-related you would probably be OK - especially that long ago.

So you may actually be wrong in thinking that this one recruiter is the only one who can help find you the job - so don't make the mistake of taking a job you have doubts about. And also recognise that you still need to get through the visa process - and Immigration needs to be OK with whatever your offence was - before they will issue the visa.

Icicle

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

DO NOT, under any circumstance work at a questionable job because of your record. Nice recruiters have nothing to do with how a job will turn out, BTW. Recruiters have nothing to do with the job, AT ALL.

Go to Taiwan where they do not care about a DWI/DUI.

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

Where are you from? Judging by your reference to misdemeanors I am guessing that you are an American. You could just get a criminal background check for another state where it won't show up. This is acceptable to immigration at the .

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

Not to throw a spanner in the works, but my first application was refused on account of being arrested when I was 15 for getting caught playing with an air rifle. I received a �20 fine and a caution, but 22 years later, it was still listed on my full disclosure police check. What made things worse was that it is classified as being a firearms offence, which on the full disclosure comes listed under shotguns.

The recruiter I was using sent it to the education board who promptly threw it back, despite the offence being over 20-years old and one which resulted in a caution. Suffice to say, I didn't get the posting I was applying for. I did however re-apply, but this time with a basic disclosure and was hired in a different province from my original application (Seoul). All things considered, I'm glad I didn't get hired on my first application as the school I'm at now is excellent and having been to Seoul, am glad I don't live there.

I'm not currently sure how things stand with the current application process. It's just been brought to my attention from another poster in a different thread that the new application process stipulates that all applicants must provide a full-disclosure, in which case, when I resign in August I could be in for some problems.

If anyone can clarify what is or isn't required by way of a Police Check from UK applicants in respect of the new requirements, it'd be most appreciated as it'd be a very serious blow if I have to leave because of this minor schoolboy misdemeanor.

mick · Joined: 04 Mar 2005

I'd also like to know if anyone from the UK has used the Basic Disclosure to obtain a visa since March of this year.
Does anybody know what stance immigration are taking on DUI convictions when issuing E2 visa's?
Cheers

Joshie · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Location: seoul

I too have a DUI-Zero tolerance violation (was 20yrs old and blew .04), and I want to ask Gwanjuboy (or anyone else for that matter) how do you know Korean Immigration is accepting Criminal checks from other states? Is it stated on the immigration website? I am seriously thinking of getting a check from wisconsin (i live in IL) and sending that to immigration.