Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nyla54]

I was hoping someone could shed light/share their experience about the process encountered after you arrive in Korea if working for SMOE. What sorts of documentation are required for you to complete once you arrive?

For example, I know within the first 90 days upon arrival, you must apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC), regardless of where you work (public, private) or what type of visa you have.

However, is there anything else I need to be aware of? I heard that you also have to submit another health exam, which includes drug testing. Is this for E-2 visa holders, public school teachers, etc?

[laoshihao]

I was told in my exit interview that health checks will happen during orientation and be organized by SMOE. My group had an issue this year where they told us we only needed one copy of the health check for immigration. However, a couple weeks into teaching they fire off a directive to our co-teachers that SMOE office needs a copy too. By then most of us had submitted our copies to immigration. So we all had to go back to our respective hospitals to get another copy of the health check. It recquired many taking off work early. I might mention that the day they sent out the directive they threatened that if they didn't have it by five that day people would be fired. Yet the clinic at the hospital SMOE recommends was closed that day. So everyone had to go over the next day.

To apply for the ARC, it will go faster at immigration if you make an appointment through the website. Then you won't have to wait hours for your number to be called on the wait list. The website should be in the info you get at orientation. You may have to have a co-teacher help you register for the site. You will also need a form from your school with their business number on it. I can't remember if you need your contract as well.

[nyla54]

So, just to summarize, there are two documents I need to worry about obtaining when I land in Korea: ARC and the health check for the ARC (I should get more than one copy in case SMOE wants it again).

[tinamarie04]

Wait, we have to get a health check before coming to Korea? I was told we have a couple weeks to get it once we get into Korea and we should get it done there...

[djbeans]

from the orientation schedule my recruiter gave me, there's half a day during orientation for health checks...

[SFValley]

[Spy Guy]

Anybody have the SMOE Orientation schedule?

I'm told that I should arrive on August 20th and a bus will take me to orientation in downtown Seoul (I've read others saying orientation is 1-1 1/2 hours away at the Hyundai Training Center).

I was also told that there isn't an orientation schedule, yet. I'm assuming orientation begins the day after arrival, the 21st, but I'm wondering if they're just saying to arrive on the 20th just to be safe.

I'm wondering this because I've read that people were told to arrive on a certain date, ended up being a few days early, were sent to the training center, and were forced to remain on campus with nothing to do.

I want to leave as late as possible to make sure I don't have any lose ends here at home.

Also, do we obtain the ARC during orientation hours or are we supposed to get them on our own time? Same with cell phone sign up, bank sign up, etc...

[Spy Guy]

[nyla54]

[nyla54]