Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adamoz]

Hi I'm from Australia, have been staying in Korea for the last year on a tourist visa, I travel frequently so the 90 days is not an issue.

For the past six months I have sub-let an apartment, the guy I sub-let it from signed a one year lease but left Korea early. well his time is up and I really would like to take the place over. Could I do this on a tourist visa?

How could I get a more permanent visa? Any immigration consultants that people know of?

Would realestates just let me sign a place? I would be paying a deposit, so having some protection would be good.

I run an online software business and sell nothing in Korea but I would like to get into the Korean market at some stage. People would just buy my product online but I would be out there promoting it.

[Otherside]

Signing a lease on a tourist visa shouldn't be a problem.
As you know, most leases here are on the Wolse system, meaning, you'd be putting a big deposit down (something along the lines of 10million won) in addition to your monthly rent. In that case, they've got plenty of insurance.
The only thing to worry about, would be them knowing that they can take you for a ride, when the time comes to move out. (Won't be very easy to fight for your money back, on a tourist visa).

Regarding the visa.
For an "F"
Either you need to be of Korean Heritage or married to a Korean.
For an "E" visa, you need to be employed, and your employer needs to sponsor your visa.
Based on your description, you'd be looking for a form of self-employed visa.
That would be a "D" visa, this requires a significant investment in Korea (Used to be 50million, but I believe it's changed to 100mill), also, there are requirements that you create "X" amount of jobs for Koreans.

For more detailed information, check the immigration website.