Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CPT]

A few questions about the medical check for immigration, and since they aren't the usual ones about drugs, I thought I'd start my own thread.

Basically, what I want to know is, can I just show up at a clinic one day (preferably tomorrow) and get my medical check done? Do I need an appointment?

Should I refrain from doing anything (besides drugs, of course) for any amount of time before going?

What do I need to bring with me? I assume my passport, and I think 2 photos....is that it?

How much should I expect to pay? I've heard between 90,000 and 150,000 asking around at work, but I thought it was a lot cheaper than that.

How long should I expect it to take?

I'd really like it if it didn't eat up too much of one of my few days off, but at the same time, taking time off from work to go do it isn't really appealing to me either.

If anyone can recommend any places (in Seoul) that do it quickly, easily, and/or cheaply, please do.

[Big Mac]

I went to a hospital near the Coex Mall in Seoul to do mine. I can't remember the name of it though.

You can show up anytime you want during business hours. You need your passport or alien card and two photos. The cost at that time (July 2008) was 65,000 Won. Just tell them what you want at the desk when you go in. They had English-speaking volunteers there when I went in who will help you fill out the forms.

Don't worry about starving yourself or anything before you go in. Just don't do drugs!!

When you go in, they will first weigh you, check your height and check your vision.

Then you'll get a chest x-ray.

They'll then take some blood. Then you do a urine test.

That's it. They don't make you take off your clothes and check you over or anything like that. You don't even have to talk to a doctor.

The whole process takes about half an hour.

[CPT]

Cool, thanks.

One thing I forgot to ask in the original post, is whether or not it is alright to go if you aren't feeling too well. If you have a cold, for example.

Might be a dumb question, but since I could see people calling it dumb from either side ("of course it's alright, the test is for long-term health risks, not a runny nose" or "why would you go when you're sick? you might as well buy your ticket home now"), I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

[princess]

You have to go to a govt. approved hospital though. My school took me to a national police hospital. I had my weight, height and hearing checked. I also had an eye test and a color blind test. Then, there was the blood and urine tests, and the chest x-ray. Then, a blood pressure check and a talk with a doctor. Done. Results came back in 2 days.

[Big Mac]

I doubt that it matters if you have a cold. It shouldn't change any of the data and it's not like they're going to deny you a visa for having a cold.