Korean Job Discussion Forums

[caligirl]

I read several earlier posts about people with lost degrees, with no clear answer. I'm just wondering if anyone has had experience in dealing with the consulate with this situation. Will they accept a letter from my University? Official transcripts? My word and a $100 bribe? (just kidding). It will take 8 weeks for my Uni to send me a new diploma, and I need to handle this before then. Any advice would be greatly, greatly appceciated. I just got offered a wonderful job, and I want to make sure my ducks are in a row as I begin the visa process. Thanks!

[Pak Yu Man]

$100 bribe? You better be joking. Who would risk their job for a lousy 100 bucks?

You better ad another 0 to your figure. Then they guy behind the desk might take you seriously.

[marcus]

When I was doing a winter camp, the people running it tried to skip around registering their teachers. They got busted but they knew they'd have to shut down the camp and lose loads of cash if they let immigration kick all of their teachers out of the country. So they cut a deal with immigration whereby they paid large "fines" and the camp kept running. I went with one of the managers to the immigration office in Suwon and he took them a "gift". He said it would help things go smoothly. We were in one office and he discreetly set the gift down on the desk and when we were asked to go to another office, he left it on that person's desk without saying anything about it to any of the immigration guys. But later, the immigration officer that desk belonged to brought the "gift" back to the camp manager and told the manager who he should actually give it to.
But I don't think a foreigner would be able to navigate the complex system of giving acceptable bribes in the form of gifts and padded fines.

[caligirl]

Wow, this is a tough room. I put "just kidding" after I said bribe. I thought that was pretty clear. I have a university degree!! I'm not going to actually bribe anyone. I just wanted to know if a certified letter was acceptable in lieu of the paper diploma. I guess my joking didn't translate into a typed message. Maybe next time I will put "just kidding" in all caps with three exclamation points.

That aside, I am still curious if anyone has found an alternate way of verifying their diploma.

[guangho]

For my job in Ansan, the visa process went thusly:
Went to the visa office with my boss.
My boss gave the clerk an envelope stuffed with cash. An open envelope.
Immi stamped my passport.

[Zark]

My first college teaching position involved a step in the process that was held up pending some, uh . . . "tea money" that had not been taken care of. The college made a "small contribution" to the fund - and after that every thing seemed to go smoothly . . .

[spliff]

No, here in Asia they're considered considerate!

[Real Reality]

Ex-pats Describe Korea's Culture of Corruption
"Koreans always seem prepared to give out bribes. I was shocked by the culture and attitude of Koreans who feel no guilt despite breaking the law."
by Kim Hong-jin, Chosun Ilbo (December 16, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200412/200412160027.html

Money key to teaching posts
... Private universities were reportedly more likely to demand money than public colleges.... The majority of the 166 respondents who were asked to make donations said they were pushed to pay from 50 million won ($42,000) to 100 million won. About 40 said that they were asked to pay more than 100 million won; five said the school demanded 200 million won.... More than 100 of the respondents said school officials demanded outright bribes from them.
by Bae Young-dae, JoongAng Daily (July 9, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200207/09/200207090054252629900090409041.html

Income Tax to Be Levied on Bribes
by Jung Sung-ki, Korea Times (April 22, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200504/kt2005042217230511990.htm

Corrupt Officials to Forfeit Bonuses
by Hyun-Jin Park, Donga.com (March 13, 2006)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2006031313528