Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cbank30]

Hey yall,

In a few weeks I'll be traveling to Korea on an E-2 visa to teach. A few months ago I had surgery on my back and was prescribed Percocet and Valium to help with pain/falling asleep.

My question is: will the Korean government be OK with me bringing these drugs in? If i keep them in checked baggage will I even have to worry about it once I get into the country? The bottles containing the drugs have my name on them (the same name that's on my passport/visa).

Follow up question: My doctor also prescribed me thyroid medication. I have about 10 refills once I get into to Korea. Should I stock up on my prescription meds here in the US and bring them over all at once, or wait till i get over to Korea to fill my scripts?

Assistance is appreciated!

[tigershark]

This has got to be a troll... but if not... you realize you have to do a drug test when you get here right?? You have to declare your health problems before you get a job. There's so many other problems with this post. I don't know where to begin...

[Nester Noodlemon]

[cbank30]

The surgery on my back was a sports related injury. I'm fine now and in excellent physical shape; i exercise daily. Maybe i should have been more specific in my first post...

The thyroid medicine is nothing serious. My family has a history of thyroid problems and my doctor just wants to play it safe.

As for the Percocet and Valium, I was prescribed them months ago for the surgery. I didn't take all of them since i didn't need them. As a result, I have a few left overs that I want to bring over "just in case" my back doesn't stay healthy. I do not have any active prescriptions for either of these drugs anymore. I will also pass the drug test. My question was regarding what issues would arise if i were to try to take these drugs INTO Korea.

My other question was what to do about my thyroid medication. Should I stock up on it and bring it over in bulk? - or will I be able to get the prescriptions I need at a Korean pharmacy?

[NYC_Gal]

Don't bring them. You can get sleep meds here. As for pain, you can get those as well. There are also loads of alternative medicinal treatments that you could try, such as massage, acupuncture (haven't tried it but my friend swears by it), and physical therapy that you could do at a health club or at home.

[moosehead]

[partymop]

Dude, just bring them, I'm sure it will be fine. You have a prescription for them, just put them in your bag, buried with some other shit, and if it happens to come up, you can show your prescription.

As for the drug test, dont take them for a couple weeks. If worse comes to worse, your not going to get kicked out for a prescription medication. I know people who have failed for prescription meds and just retaken the test.

You want to avoid pills if you can, just to avoid the hassling and questioning as a first impression, but this isn't some draconian dociety where your going to get tossed in jail for having prescription meds. i cant say for sure, but dont worry too much

[dumpring]

[Chalmers]

100% fine to bring them here. Especially if you have a prescription. Every time I have been through customs at Incheon airport, they have never looked inside my bags...even coming from SE Asia.

[Trevor]

If you have a legal prescription for the drugs don't worry. Keep them in the original prescription bottles and bring a note from your doctor if you want to be extra certain. For your drug test, declare all your prescription meds. That's it. You have nothing else to worry about.

[Alphabet_Stew]

[farfromhome]

stock up in the US and pack them in your carry on/backpack. DO NOT put them in your checked baggage unless you want to give the TSA an early xmas gift.

I wouldn't worry about the Valium or Perc; I've brought in just about every benzo in addition to Dexedrine, Vicodin, oxy ... Not once in more than 15 yr of travel (US>ROK) have I been questioned about my meds or asked to show my prescription(s), even after 9/11 + DHS paranoia.

Bring in as much as you can because yes, it is possible to get similar drugs here, but they are inferior to US generics.

[vortexy]

I would highly recommend getting your thyroid meds in your home country and bringing them over. My doc makes me get a blood test and least every 2 mos but usually every month, and he'll only prescribe for me one month at a time--he told me it's Korean regulation. ?

Also, they only seem to have Synthroid.

If you are taking Synthroid, tho, and you don't mind it, I will say it's cheap here. I pay 4000 won cash for a one-month supply.

[moosehead]

[vortexy]

[quote="moosehead"][quote="vortexy"]and why would you even bother believing this after I just posted that I had the same condition and managed with a 6 mo supply at a time?

I don't know you, and I see a lot of wrong info on these boards, so I posted my own experience to help the questioner. Have you been to enough docs in Korea to know for sure that your doc is the exception and not the rule? What if she gets over here and has my experience instead of yours? Try to open your mind beyond your own experience. My doc is well-regarded, and has a slew of foreigners who see him and love him. I will say that you introduced some new information that I will investigate further.