Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AdamtheJohnson]

I need something clarified for me real quick.

I'm looking to teach ESL in either Korea or Japan. I have a BFA in photography with a minor in Creative Writing/English.

The one thing that has me worried about Korea is that the employer has control of the Visa, so if you get fired, you have to get outta dodge.

However, also being a photographer, would it be possible would it be possible for to get a working artist visa, work as a photographer AND teach ESL "on the side?"

Im still researching where I want to go, so I'm not real well versed on the visa situation yet.

Adam

[Fishead soup]

Thats the special stamp in your passport that allows you to photograph and draw naked women

[AdamtheJohnson]

[danseonsaeng]

He's being funny.

[AdamtheJohnson]

I was about to say, I dont need no stinking stamp, I do it just fine on my own.

[AdamtheJohnson]

Bump

[sarbonn]

This is just my guess, so anyone can easily prove me wrong if they have more info than I do, but I can't imagine for a second that Korea is gonig to set it up so that you can "teach on the side" while being here for a non income purpose. I would think they would be focusing on whatever income you might be pulling in, and then any artist thing would be the thing they'd consider you're doing on the side and would care less about, if at all.

[Juregen]

There are limited set of Visa that will let you teach.

1st E1 Visa : this is for University level educators and professors
2nd E2 Visa: the most common Visa for teaching languages (yes, no only English)
3rd F5 Visa: F5 visas are green cards and allow you to take any Job
4th F4 visa: You need to have ancestral connections to Korea

If you have any other visa, you need an additional E2 Visa to be allowed to work.

[cruisemonkey]

There are two types of 'artist visas':

Cultural Arts (D-1) - but you're not allowed to make a profit; and,

Arts/Entertainment (E-6) - this is for photographers (but the vast majority go to Russian hookers).

[rooster_2006]

OP, it's an interesting question, I just don't know if this is the right place to ask it. The people in these forums have completely one-track minds and only think in terms of E-2, E-1, and F-4, and in terms of the western concept of "it's only illegal if there's a law against it."

I want to remind all of you that EVERY FOREIGNER in Korea (except those with permanent residency) can be deported at any time, for any reason, no matter how trivial, with no recourse. You do not have the right to a trial before being deported. So don't think of things as "legal" or "illegal," think of them as "likely to get me deported" or "unlikely to get me deported."

Many students teach languages illegally, and it is not even an issue, because it's forgivable, because they're students. I once checked with the Program Director at Yonsei University KLI and she said that not once has she ever heard of one of the KLI's thousands of D-4 students getting busted for private lessons, even though they do it all the time. Why? Because the police are sympathetic to them, even though it's illegal, because Korean police like students, especially those who are striving to learn Korean language and culture.

At the other end of the spectrum, take the leader of the Raelian cult. He was not even allowed to leave Incheon Airport! He was deported from Korea. Has he ever committed a crime in Korea? Of course not, he's never even been allowed to enter, how could he? However, Korean immigration found him reprehensible, and doesn't let him in.

So don't worry about whether something is "legal" or "illegal." Lots of illegals live here for years and years because they don't offend anybody, and lots of 100% legal slimeballs get kicked out.

So if I were you, I'd worry more about just finding a visa to allow you to live in Korea long-term. I think the best long-term tutoring visas for white people are the D-4 and D-2 student visas. They put you into a "student" status (though you can get away with attending as little as eight hours of class a week), which means sympathy from the cops if you're caught, and you can just keep on renewing them as long as you're in Korea. Sure there's tuition that you have to pay, but at my school, it's only $521.13 per term.

If caught, you can just say you were a student and didn't know better. Or if you have a D-2 for regular studies, you're technically allowed to work 20 hours a week (and what you can do during that 20 hours is dubious, probably not including tutoring, but you can always say you didn't know).

[AdamtheJohnson]

Ok. My one concern about teaching in Korea is that your employer owns your visa, if you're fired you pretty much have to go home, yes?

What Im thinking is maybe, if one were to get fired or quit, stay in the country illegally while you apply for an artist visa. I dont know, it probably doesnt work that way.

[rooster_2006]

[AdamtheJohnson]