Korean Job Discussion Forums

[faultytowers]

Hey,

I am due to arrive in Korea soon and I understand we have to have a medical check for drugs and health. Recently i went to my dentist at home and well i need alot of work....but i can't afford to pay for it. So my questions is this...

Dental check......is it possible to fail?? I would be looking to register with a korean dentist when i arrive and gradually, as i get paid, get my teeth fixed.

Anyways, your opinions are welcome!

Steve.

[Join Me]

I wouldn't worry. I have not heard of one example of someone having problems due to their dental issues.

[Socks]

In the 2009 government Dental check - an E-2 visa applicant must not have more than 2 cavities..

(This is worse than 2008, when E-2 visa applicants were allowed to have 3 cavities and 1 impacted tooth)...

[faultytowers]

Hey,

Is there a link for me to see this? I may have more than that and it would be a nightmare if i came all the way to korea and was sent home due to having a few cavities....

I'm getting worried about this now....damn it takes my dentist a month to just get me 1 check up...i am now wondering what im going to do...

[Steve Schertzer]

[Korussian]

Don't worry - in my experience, there is no mouth x-ray and no one is likely to notice your cavities on visual inspection. Perhaps some other posters can correct me if I'm wrong, but here's how I think you could do it, ethically and legally:

The health check doesn't happen until after you are already in Korea, while cavities don't constitute enough of a health threat in themselves for you to feel obligated to list them on your pre-arrival self-assessment questionnaire.

If by some stroke of cosmic malice you fail your health check due to cavities and whatnot (visible/massive dental decay would be a different story), then simply go over to one of the many qualified dentists nearby, several hundred dollars (in WON) in hand, and have them fix up your cavities.

Then go to a different government-approved clinic for a recheck, armed with your dentist's report of repairs in your back pocket, and get your clean bill of health. You don't need to tell the second clinic anything about the first clinic's assessment of you.

For best results, go to a smaller, less glitzy clinic, which might be more interested in a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am health check without causing needless problems for you.

(Obviously, this pre-supposes that you have several hundred dollars to work with on arrival, but, if you don't, I'm sure your employer will give you an advance on your first salary rather than lose you and go through the hassle of getting a replacement for you. Even a crooked owner would usually see the sense in that.)

[Caerus]

There's a dental portion to the E2 Visa guidelines? Where the heck can I read that?

I should probably go to a dentist then for a checkup.... I haven't been to one in like over 2 years. My teeth look and feel fine, but if I'm going to get denied because of cavities that's going to piss me off....

[partialtone]

Unfortunately I can give some solid info on this topic. A month ago I had my health check for a new visa here in Korea and passed the dental portion. Fast forward to this week where I go to a dentist on a whim for a check-up and find out I have 2 small pre-cavities and a big cavity that will need a gold cap. Well... after 6 years of hard living with 0 dentist visits I guess that should be expected.

So yes, I think you'll pass your dental portion of the med-check no problem.

[schwa]

[rumdiary]

They just make you say AWWWW and take a peek. If they see something wrong they tell you to see a dentist but you don't fail

[sojourner1]

I started with EPIK 6 months ago and the only things my health exam consisted of were blood and urine tests. No dental, chest X-ray, EKG, or anything else.

It would be good to get a complete physical check for once in life though, especially if you're past your 20's. I haven't had one since I was 19 entering the Army and going on 39 in a couple years.

[Ultimo Hombre]

They didn't even give me a dental check.