Korean Job Discussion Forums

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

Hello,
I'm a Canadian with a BA in English, currently completing a Bachelor of Education. I'm getting married in the summer to a Danish national. We've recently been toying with the idea of of going to Korea so that I can teach ESL.
I'm wondering about work permits since she would not be qualified to teach ESL. Would a school sponsor me with a spouse? Would it be a problem to get my spouse a residence and/or work permit? I'm not entirely sure what work she could do (she is in health care, but there is the language barrier), but it would be nice if she had the possibility to find some work.
Also, are there many school that would offer an apartment for a couple with only one person working for that school?
Any information that anyone can provide would be very appreciated! Thanks in advance!

rainyqueen · Joined: 14 Nov 2005

As far as what kind of work your spouse could find, i'm uncertain. Probably lots - I just don't know...

But otherwise, I have an E2 and my husband has a spousal visa, which does not permit him to work, but allows him to stay the same period of time as I do.

Also, if you let your school know ahead of time, that you require a bigger apartment and force the issue, it can be agreed upon. Some schools will just say forget it, but others will try to help you out. The other option is to get a housing allowance, and find a place yourself (that is what we did).

Sorry I'm not more help Smile

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lastat06513 · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

She will get an F3 visa, which is for dependants of foreign workers here. My question is, does she hold an EU passport? (Which the most likely answer should be "yes"). Because if she does, there is no problem getting that visa.

The best thing I can tell you to do is that when you get your ARC, ask about the required documents, which most likely would be;

1. Your passport and ARC
2. A copy of her passport
3. A copy of your contract
4. A noterized copy of your marriage certificate (I recommend not giving them the original)

There might be more documents depending on the place where she's from and what mood the immigration officer is in that day (no joke!)

I would also recommend that you get married first before coming here. Then come and get the immigration formalities out of the way and then have her come here on a tourist visa and then apply for the spousal visa that way. They seem to be cracking down on people trying to get visa certificates for other people who are not in the country.

As for work, after she gets an F3 visa, she then can find a job. In theory, she would have to find a job and sign a contract. Then take that contract to the immigration office to get an amendment to her visa (F3-1) that will allow her to work. But in many cases, she can take almost any job and if you are going to be in Seoul, there is no worries about work for her. If she has a native North American or Cambridge accent or even a nuetral accent, she would have no problems finding work here, especially with the way some schools are having problems finding teachers.

In any case, good luck*

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

First off, thanks for your great replies - she is an EU citizen, so that is a good thing I suppose.
The schedule is: We get married in August, I go in September, then she will not be there for another two months, until after she finishes school. The best thing for us is to simply have her fly to Korea, and then we apply? If she finds work, it's just a matter of having her visa changed? Sounds almost too easy and convenient (compared to having us live in one of our home countries!)
Thanks again for your help, I'm sure I'll be on here more often now that I know that Korea is a possibility for us!

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

Oh, almost forgot to ask - will I have any problem supporting two people on one salary while she looks for work? Will I still be able to save? Thanks again!

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:41 am Post subject:

Thats VERY true

I knew a guy who made 3 million a month and wasted it all on gambling and boozes and I knew a man who made only 1.5 million a month and was able to save a million won a month.

It all depends on lifestyle. Here, you can live a middle class lifestyle and still save money, that it the goldmine that makes Korea so appealling.
But if you can get her a job that would pay at least 800,000 to a million a month, I think you can live very well.

Also keep in mind, not only are you able to save money each money, but since you are Canadian, you will be eligible for the end-of-employment pension too (this is deducated from your pay, supposedly automatically).

Also, make sure that you get her on your medical insurance also. This can be done by getting her noted on the dependant section of your insurance card. This will save you alot on medical bills.

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

Certainly sounds like there is a possibility to really save some, which is great since I've got huge student loans to worry about. I'm sure we won't live luxurious lifestyles though if we are saving that kind of money a nice trip to Thailand might be in order Smile

As for this pension, I've noticed in the job postings they say that you will get a month's pay at the end of a 1 year contract. Is it this to which you are referring? I certainly don't have any complaints about that.
As for the medical insurance, the standard that I seem to be seeing is a 50/50 split for the employer and the employee. Is it common to find a position where they will pay 100? Will she be able to be included on this med plan? I just need to ask and pay the extra? Sounds great to me. Thanks again!

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

No, the severance pay is seperate from the pension. The pension is suppose to be a mandatory duduction from your pay that you get back when you either retire or leave the country (though I only of Canada and the US in which this is the case).
The severance pay is something that is a given to you by Korean law; ALL EMPLOYERS ARE SUPPOSE TO GIVE YOU A MONTH'S WAGES UPON LEAVING THE POSITION UNLESS STIPULATED OTHERWISE IN THE CONTRACT. (as quoted on a website regarding this)

Enough about pensions.

The medical is usually 50/50 (as perscribed in the labor laws and guidelines). Unless you work for a government entity or a foreign government, you will unlikely find a job that would pay 100% (unless it is some university that has a hospital unit- like Seoul National University)
She is entitled to be put on your insurance, the only thing I know that will happen is that you and the employer will have to split the hospital bill for the both of you.
I once knew a person who had not only himself on the insurance plan, but also his wife and in-laws (he was Canadian and his wife and in-laws were Korean)

I think you will have no problems,- have a blast

fiveeagles · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: Vancouver

My friends in Seoul are married and both working. She doesn't have a degree, but is being told by her school there is a visa that will allow her to work under her husband's degree. She hasn't got the visa yet, but if she does, I will let you know.

I am interested in it too, because my wife is here with me as well.

She is covered under my medical insurance and this is all paid for by the school.

I guess it depends on your contact!

Good luck and congradulations on being married!

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

Well thanks for all of the great responses, everyone has been helpful.
My fiance is Danish and her English is good, but I'm sure she wouldn't want to try teaching it. Her education is in health care (practical nursing) though I doubt that she would be able to use it there?
I've been told that there is a large English speaking community in Seoul due to an American army base. Is this true? Is there a name for this location, and would there be a possiblity of her finding some work in this area because she speaks English (work of any sort)? Are there similar English speaking areas in other parts of Korea?
Thanks for all of your help!

camdearlove · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Location: Gangwon-do

Well thanks for all of the great responses, everyone has been helpful.
My fiance is Danish and her English is good, but I'm sure she wouldn't want to try teaching it. Her education is in health care (practical nursing) though I doubt that she would be able to use it there?
I've been told that there is a large English speaking community in Seoul due to an American army base. Is this true? Is there a name for this location, and would there be a possiblity of her finding some work in this area because she speaks English (work of any sort)? Are there similar English speaking areas in other parts of Korea?
Thanks for all of your help!