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pikadoopoo
Joined: 19 May 2011
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 Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject: Is SMOE being unfair? [Eligibility] |
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I had an interview last month with SMOE directly and although I was initially accepted, they told me that they couldn't hire me anymore when they found out I was a dual citizen (US and Korea). I was told that they accepted 3 dual citizens last fall and that the paperwork involved was too complicated.
SMOE's website states that Korean citizens are eligible:
http://etis.sen.go.kr/custom/custom.do?dcpNo=12642
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| Ethnic Korean applicants with foreign citizenship or legal residence must have been taught in English-language schools... lived abroad for a minimum of 10 years. Male citizens of Korea under 35 must have completed military service or have received an official waiver. |
Is this information outdated or incorrect? Do they really not accept Korean citizens, or are they just denying dual citizens?
I got a position with GEPIK, but I'd really like to teach in Seoul one day.
Edit: My recruiter told me that SMOE does accept Korean citizens. And just to make it clear, I was born and raised in the US and have only recently acquired dual citizenship with Korea.
Last edited by pikadoopoo on Sun Feb 05, 2012 2:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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iggyb
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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It's probably an immigration thing. Did you do part of your schooling (elementary or secondary) in Korea?
I know a kyopo who has US citizenship who was offered a university position after having worked with SMOE for 3 years. They also backed out of the offer stating the fact she had gone to elementary school in Korea for a few years created a problem. |
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pikadoopoo
Joined: 19 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| iggyb wrote: |
It's probably an immigration thing. Did you do part of your schooling (elementary or secondary) in Korea?
I know a kyopo who has US citizenship who was offered a university position after having worked with SMOE for 3 years. They also backed out of the offer stating the fact she had gone to elementary school in Korea for a few years created a problem. |
No, I have never, ever lived in Korea. I was born and raised in the US. I've only been to Korea once 5 years ago, and that was just a visit.
SMOE will accept Korean green card-holders, yet aren't willing to hire dual citizens who are essentially all-American.
Does anyone know who I can contact and know when their working hours are?
Last edited by pikadoopoo on Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| yet aren't willing to hire dual citizens who are essentially all-American |
That's only looking at it from one direction. From their perspective, you could be a Korean with dual citizenship. In that case, they don't want to hire that person and sell them off as a native English speaker. |
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carnivalbeauty
Joined: 20 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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| can you not re-apply somewhere just using you American passport and not disclose you own a Korean passport?- |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't think he can do that. It will come up on the computer at immigration. I think once SMOE gets it into its head that it isn't going to hire you, it's pretty much over. Try to apply to schools elsewhere in Korea through recruiters that are non EPIK or GEPIK recruiters. |
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pikadoopoo
Joined: 19 May 2011
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
| Quote: |
| yet aren't willing to hire dual citizens who are essentially all-American |
That's only looking at it from one direction. From their perspective, you could be a Korean with dual citizenship. In that case, they don't want to hire that person and sell them off as a native English speaker. |
Well, they hire Korean green card holders. They are still Korean citizens. Does a green card holder come off more "foreign" than a dual citizen?
Legal dual citizenship is also pretty difficult to acquire for Korean-born citizens, I believe.
Although I appreciate the last 2 posters' advice, I've already stated I was hired by GEPIK. I'm really happy about it.
I guess I should let it go and move on, but I feel... well, cheated. I want to investigate it and do my best to clear up any misunderstandings. I've already e-mailed one of the coordinators, so I hope it goes well.
FYI, GEPIK and EPIK (excluding SMOE) accept dual citizens, so I don't understand why SMOE's the exception.
Edit: I was told that if they change their policies, I could go ahead and re-apply, but who knows when they'll actually do that?
Last edited by pikadoopoo on Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:03 am; edited 2 times in total |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| pikadoopoo wrote: |
FYI, GEPIK and EPIK (excluding SMOE) accept dual citizens, so I don't see the logic.
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It was just a mistaken assumption on my part, nothing more. |
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pikadoopoo
Joined: 19 May 2011
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
| pikadoopoo wrote: |
FYI, GEPIK and EPIK (excluding SMOE) accept dual citizens, so I don't see the logic.
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It was just a mistaken assumption on my part, nothing more. |
Oh, no.  I was just saying I don't understand SMOE's unwillingness to accept dual citizens if EPIK and GEPIK don't mind. |
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Times30
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 4:59 am Post subject: |
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There's probably some odd bureaucratic issue behind the whole thing. Immigration is messy sometimes.
But I was under the impression dual citizenship was easier to deal with. I know a few people in EPIK who were dual.
Anyways EPIK is picking up SMOE from what i heard so maybe there are changes coming. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:38 am Post subject: |
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renounce Korean citizenship, get an F4 visa.
Problem solved.
You are trying to be a foreigner and a Korean at the same time. The problem with dual citizenship is you can't pick and choose which country you are a citizen of. In Korea, you are a Korean citizen. All policies will affect you as it would any other Korean citizen. You can't just say "Oh, I'm am American. I'm not Korean." You have dual citizenship but for all intents an purposes you are a Korean to their eyes.
Someone is trying to have their cake and eat it too.
Life is about making choices. Is keeping your Korean citizenship worth it? F4 visa will let you do almost anything. However, you won't get bank loans for a car/apartment and you can't vote. If you are fine with that then why don't you make the switch to F4? |
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pikadoopoo
Joined: 19 May 2011
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 7:21 am Post subject: |
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Nope, I can't renounce Korean citizenship. (I've asked). It wasn't my choice to become a dual citizen, since I'm ineligible for any Korean visas due to the strange dual citizenship law Korea legalized 2 years ago. Here's a thread I made that explains it: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=216311
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But I was under the impression dual citizenship was easier to deal with. I know a few people in EPIK who were dual.
Anyways EPIK is picking up SMOE from what i heard so maybe there are changes coming. |
Yeah, if anything, dual citizenship should be easier to deal with... But I've had a hard time finding jobs that would accept me because of it.
I know that EPIK already does the majority of SMOE's recruiting, but are you saying that there might be even more changes? 
Hmm... If I were to apply with EPIK next year instead of going through SMOE directly, do you think I'd be able to get a position in Seoul? Or does SMOE decide who to hire? I know you can get accepted by EPIK, but I've heard that the education boards make the final decision.
You know, maybe I shouldn't even bother. SMOE might not even be hiring any English teachers in 2014. |
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amoonbot
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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SMOE is planning on cutting more than 50% of its current NETs. In addition, a lot of schools (including mine) have told their outgoing NETs that there won't be any replacements after them. I don't think it's worth the trouble.
If you're so fixated on Seoul, I recommend while teaching for GEPIK, establish connections and branch out. It's all about connections here. Of course, being bilingual would definitely be a plus. Try not to limit your searches to only hagwons/public schools. There are quite a few companies that employ bilingual gyopos. |
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