Korean Job Discussion Forums

[enangel]

Hello Everybody

This is my first post!
I've been reading some posts online saying that it's possible to be recruited by EPIK legitimately as a NET even though you have have a medical condition.

Is this true? Has anyone out there experienced this for themselves or heard of someone else who has experienced this? I would love to know as I long to be accepted onto the EPIK programme. I'm fit and healthy, and thankfully my condition is not serious in fact my doc is INCREDIBLY optimistic! If I had the chance to skate through the medical exam I would not disclose anything, as it does not impact my life in anyway. However, a simple blood test would detect something straightaway and so that is not an option.
Anyway I hope to hear back from someone!

[CentralCali]

When you get to Korea, you will take a medical examination that includes a blood test. Depending on what the condition is, that may appear in the results. If you didn't disclose it, you might be canned immediately and whatever pay you've earned with EPIK might very well go towards paying back the initial allowances.

[Aine1979]

It depends what your medical condition is. As part of the medical, they do checks for narcotics, HIV, TB and Hepatitis. If you've any of those conditions, then you'll fail the medical.

Also if you take any medication for your condition, you would need to check and see if it shows up on a drug screening.

[enangel]

It's a type of anaemia where my red blood cells 'crescent' or 'sickle' shaped instead of round causing low haemoglobin levels (7.6 instead of 14), which a routine blood screen would find. I am on medication for prophalytic use (penicillin and folic acid), but these should pass the screen.
It's sad because one look at my vitals and one could think that I am an unwell individual, but the truth is I am as healthy as my friends. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I've never run into problems and my doctor can testify to that.

[ttompatz]

Should be a non-issue as far as the medical exam goes (not on the list of things that would get your ARC denied).

Lying on your job application, visa application and self medical are other issues but you are old enough to decide what to do and understand what the potential consequences are.

.

[Aine1979]

I had a friend at uni who had sickle cell anemia, and one thing I remember is she was at an increased risk of malaria, and had to be careful of where she travelled to. Although the risk of malaria in Korea is low, I checked and got the following information

Areas with malaria: Limited to the months of March�December in rural areas in the northern parts of Incheon, Kangwon-do, and Ky�nggi-do Provinces, including the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

I'm sure this is something you've checked out yourself, and I'm not sure if the susceptibility to malaria is the case in everyone with sickle cell anemia, but it's best to look into it.

I'd tell the truth on my medical forms, because in the event you go into a sickle cell crisis, you want to be able to get good and proper medical care, and not end up being deported for lying on your medical forms.

[enangel]

I agree with you both the risk of being deported and possibly being banned from Korea for lying on official documents is one that I am not willing to take. I'd rather be as honest as possible, take a chance and apply; after all I'd hate to look back and think 'What if?'

@Aine1979 Yes there can be an increased susceptibility in getting Malaria, but as South Korea is not an endemic region the risk is low. Of course, if and when I get to the point of requiring travel vaccinations I will discuss any need for anti-malarial medication with my doctor.

Thank you all for the advice!

[young_clinton]

I think that they will overlook your condition. Sickle Cell Anemia doesn't sound like the kind of disease that will get you rejected. It's non infectious and very common. They will probably ignore it. However you have to list it on the medical portion of the application if blood tests will pick it up. You wouldn't be able to give the impression that you were ignorant of the condition during the Korean medical exam.