Korean Job Discussion Forums

Saudiman · Joined: 12 Nov 2009

Long story short, I used to work (May-Sept 2009) at a very corrupt college in Daegu who flew me over to Korea. After four months of hell, they ended my contract after telling me flat out that they didn't "like" me, and lying about students saying they wanted me fired, which they did not do. During that time, I had been given a KEB visa card. The school said they would fly me back home, but of course they didn't, so I had to use the card to fly home. I haven't been able to pay it back yet, due to low pay and living costs here in the USA, but intend to. All I get are emails in my Spam box, entirely in Korean, from KEB.

I got a criminal record check from Korea a few months ago, and it came back clean.

If I flew back with the cash to pay the debt at some future point (to see friends still there but not to work) would I be arrested on arrival at the airport?

I know, I know that I should've had more resources available while there, but at the time I had no recourse other than to use the card.

Stan Rogers · Joined: 20 Aug 2010

If there is a warrant for your arrest yes. If there isn't then no.

You committed fraud. That's illegal no matter how you justify it to yourself.

Kind of stupid question actually.

Chris.Quigley · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Belfast. N Ireland

Is your Korean account cancelled? It isn't fraud until you are convicted of fraud. Currently it is a civil matter. If possible, get a Korean to notify the bank that you intend to transfer money from your home country into your Korean account to pay off the debt. Pay the card off immediately, (all principal, interest, fees, etc). If you can do this, then there wont be any problems.

If you cannot do this... Then maybe travelling back to Korea isn't a very good idea. Really, I would strongly advise against doing so. It is possible they will have forwarded your name to the police, and you will be detained when entering Korean again.

How long has it been since this happened? If this was in the last few months then there shouldn't be huge problems. Don't expect to ever be given a Visa/Mastercard in Korea ever again though.

liveinkorea316 · Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Location: South Korea

Since when was it illegal to not pay back a credit card? The worst that can happen is you will not get another card from them and they can try and enforce payment. It is a contractual matter hence civil not criminal.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

Would the OP have a default judgment against him from a civil court? Not to scare you, to be honest, it's very likely you were sued and the default judgment is for several thousand dollars more than what you actually owe due to legal costs and other fees brought on by the bank and civil courts system. Defaulting on an account is only a civil matter for sure, but they can seize any assets you have in their jurisdiction to satisfy the debt the judgment says you owe. You can copy and paste the text from the emails into a translator like Bablefish to get some idea what they said though it won't be a perfect read.

Who knows, you might not have been sued, because you weren't present to receive a summons?

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Possibilities.....
Should you come back and work....you'll need a bank account.....immigration will issue you the original allien registration number and that number will be researched/checked/entered into the system when you open the account....the collection department will eventually find out that you have returned and are working...even if you open an account at another bank.....they will then contact you for payment, No pay, they could take you to court.

minipin · Joined: 22 Dec 2010

I agree with Stan Rogers. If you spring as a warrant when they run your passport yes, if not no. Customs is not going to arrest you because of a civilian calling in saying that you owe them money and need to be held.

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

The answer is no. Korea does not have debtor's prison. It's not a criminal matter.

But that CC is rapidly accruing interest and late fees, and I don't know if it could affect your credit score in your home country, but you'll probably never get any type of credit in Korea again. If you go back to Korea, expect to pay cash for everything.

TheresaTheresa · Joined: 24 Feb 2010

If you won't be working in Korea again, don't lose any sleep over it.

allovertheplace · Joined: 02 Aug 2009

Why is anyone on here saying is a criminal matter? And a judgment against you if extremely unlikely unless the amount is enormous.

If you want to work you probably need to clear it up, if you are jut visiting dont worry.

One question though, if you dont have the money to pay credit card payments, but are worrried about it, why are you spending money on a flight to korea?????

Saudiman · Joined: 12 Nov 2009

I'm not flying back now, but plan to when I have the money. Maybe I'll just ask a Korean friend here in the States to help me with the emails and translations. Of course, I did not enjoy doing what I did, but when a school treated me as this college did, left me stranded, lied about me and did all they could to get me out after I spent a summer filling in and helping them through a crisis when they had no teacher, they aren't worth it to work for.