Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aristotle84]

[kat2]

they are getting stricter and stricter about the degrees. There was a big scandal last year with a bunch of fake canadian degrees. I would be careful. There are also rumors of background checks going around. I think its possible to teach in Taiwan without one. If you want to save money, DON"T go to thailand. I 've heard vietnam pays well, but I don't know about the visa restrictions.

[aristotle84]

thanks, i appreciate your advice on thailand, thats what ive heard too, that their pay is below that of other countries...

[SeoulShakin]

The rumor about needing sealed, official transcripts is not a rumor, it is true. They need to be sealed and stamped by the official University stamp. Immigration does indeed check and verify that your degree is genuine. Like the other poster said, there was that huge scandal a year or two ago, so they go out of their way to make sure the degree is legit. Even once you are given your visa (they check it then), you also have to fill out a degree verification form at immigration before you get your ARC (I had to do this - not everyone does, but when I went that's what they asked me to do). It included detailed information about my University, and contact information (names and numbers) so that they could contact the school and verify my attendance and graduation.
It's definitely a risk you need to weigh carefully. I am not one to judge about financial hardships during University, but the risks are there, and the consequences include heavy fines, deportation, and or incarceration.
So yes, the legitimacy of the degree is checked thoroughly, and usually double checked again at the time your ARC is issued. The need for sealed, official University transcripts is legit as well.
Hope this answered your questions.

[TheUrbanMyth]

Yes, they check degrees and they do require transcripts sealed and mailed from the university with the university seal on top. And Immigration is much stricter now. If you are caught, you will face jail time and a fine. If you can not pay the fine, then you will serve (or so I've heard) a longer stretch in jail, deportation and banned from visiting or working in Korea for a good long time.

China does not require a university degree. If you can land a position at a international school there some pay nearly as well as Korea.

[ttompatz]

[princess]

hahaha!!! Losers in my hometown are always getting busted for meth, marijuana, etc. It just goes to show you REAL jobs are scarce and people will do whatever they need to do to survive. That includes illegal teaching in Korea. Two people at one of my old schools were busted for having fake degrees and they left on the same day. One was so scared, she ran off and left all her stuff behind, and another teacher shipped her things to her. She took a risk and got busted! I'd say you are taking a HUGE chance if you do this. Never having been to Korea, you will also have more obstacles to face. I think your chances of getting caught will be even greater in your situation.

[aristotle84]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ttompatz]

[aristotle84]

[jmbran11]

Truth be told, you came to the wrong place for advice about illegal teaching and methods. There is also little sympathy here for being unable to pay for school, as many of us worked our way through university and resent the implication that we are somehow more privileged than you because we didn't drop out.

However, I will speak up and say it may be possible to buy a fake degree if you can also buy a fake sealed transcript. One of my friends and I came to Korea several years ago, my diploma was real and his was bought. We took them both to the Korean consulate, who copied and notarized them as real. No one checked anything.

I know they are stricter now, such as requiring transcripts, but I have trouble believing that they actually physically verify each diploma. The reason I doubt this is because my school will not release any student information without a signature, and I never signed anything. I had assumed they were unable to personally verify each one, which is why origninal transcripts are now required to support authenticity. So, my point is that I think it could be possible, but (as the other posters said), it's quite a crapshoot and probably not worth the effort.

If you are Korean-American and have family here, you should be eligible for an F-4 visa, regardless of education. If you want to work illegally, why not just come over on a tourist visa and start teaching private lessons. Since you have vast social ties here and know the language, you'll have no problems making a stellar living, and you'll be back to school in no time if immigration doesn't catch you.

[huffdaddy]

[aristotle84]