Korean Job Discussion Forums

fudge · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Location: London

Hi,
Just want some info from you experienced people. I am planning to go to Korea with a friend of mine. The problem is I have a degree required for the Visa application but my friend has not. He has just done the TEFL course. What do you reckon are his chances of getting a job here?

I was also hoping to find a school that will have 2 positions for us. Are they hard to come by? Will they supply a 2 bedroom apartment?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The demand for teachers is good here. You will have no problem finding a job. Your friend is SOL for getting a legal job. The minimum requirement is a college degree.

Your friend has two options that I know of. One is to acquire a phoney degree and then enter the country legally, but under false pretenses. Immigration is checking degrees, so this will be more difficult to get away with than in the past. If caught, he/she/it will be fined and deported. It will also likely to be publicized in the media (another sleazy foreigner ripping off the good people of Korea).

The second option is to enter legally on a tourist visa and then search for illegal work. This can be done, but also runs the risk of arrest and deportation.

Schools will sometimes hire a couple and provide two bedroom apts, but since your friend will be an illegal worker, that is not nearly as likely.

You and your friend have some decisions to make.

Karabeara · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject:

What makes you think it's any better for your friend to work illegally here? Would he misrepresent his credentials back home? Why or why not?

Tell him to stay away. I don't care if he does have a TEFL course. Big deal. TEFL courses are a dime a dozen. Which is more difficult to get: A TEFL course, or the minimum requirement, which is a 4-year degree? Immigration doesn't care about TEFL courses. They want to see a degree.

We don't need any more illegal teachers here taking work from legal ones, and causing bad news for foreigners.

If he comes, I hope he gets caught. People like your "mate" lower the wages for the rest of us who bothered to get a degree, and jump through all of the hoops here to be legal.

The fine is no small one. There have been rumors that the fine is a few million won, and you are simply deported. I know of one guy who was fined a HUGE amount- well over 8 million won - because immigration saw how long he had been here. He stayed in jail for 8 months because he refused to pay. His family paid, and he was sent home, finally.

By the way, when he comes here, please let me know where he lives. I need a little extra cash. I can make money by turning your "mate" in to immigration.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Karabeara · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject:

For the first time in a long time, we are seeing the shortage of teachers actually causing a raise in wages, which have been stagnant for several years. I know of two recent job situations where Koreans had to give in and pay more or offer more vacation just to hire anybody.

Part of this, I have no doubt, is because of publicity over recent immigration busts of illegals. Many people are having second thoughts, and staying away if they are illegal. If illegals like your friend keep trying to come here, it hurts MY income. Not to mention, the reputation of those who teach here and care about actually teaching.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject:

I've turned coat on this one.

It used to be that I felt sorry for illegals. These days, I don't.

I'm not going out of my way to turn any in, but I also see that pay is increasing because the flow of illegals has been squelched somewhat.

I hope your friend doesn't come here.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

While the Net has perhaps opened opportunities for people to make contacts to find illegal work I think it's also served to warn a lot of people off Korea. News of all the busts certainly must help. The people who I think are really benefiting are those of us already in Korea, as some employers are beginning to realise that they have to offer a bit more if they want an experienced teacher who already knows how Korea works and can accept it.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

If you guys are Australian or Canadian, why not Japan. You can get a normal work visa and he could get a working holiday visa for one year. The money is a bit better here, but not by much.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

Brits can also get a working holiday visa for Japan, and I'm sure Kiwis must be able to too, since they can get a working visa in loads of different countries. The OP was Brit, Aus or Kiwi probably from the way he wrote. So off to Japan with both of ye.

Whiskey Samurai · Joined: 10 Dec 2005 Location: Korea

Seriously, I have just been through so much hassle because of the trouble caused by illegal workers here - I used to have no problem with bucking the system, always thought "rules were there to be broken" and all that. Now, no way. My perfectly legal and hard-earned degree was refused by immigration several times and I went through a lot of hassle to get the situation sorted out - please don't add to the problem by coming without a degree.

fudge · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Location: London

Ok guys. Chill. I was only asking what his chances were and if it was possible to get work without a degree!!! Guess not then! Still, no need for the hostility!

Whiskey Samurai · Joined: 10 Dec 2005 Location: Korea

Haha your post did get quite the reaction! Good luck!

mithridates · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject:

Oh man I hope I hope I hope I hope his mate doesn't come to Korea and f*ck EVERYTHING UP! Surprised