Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ed Provencher · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

I heard about a few teachers who are facing drug charges, but the details are sketchy. I'm curious to learn about Korean laws regarding drugs. If you know anything about this, please let me know. Also, any links to information would be appreciated.

I think that one person is facing intent to buy from an undercover. I think the others have been ratted out by the first guy for using. I heard that you can be convicted of drug crimes if you have drugs show up in a urine test. I'm guessing the first guy ratted on the others for using.

Thanks for helping me learn about this.

Imbroglio · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:27 am Post subject:

Insane!

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

I think your story is 100% untrue. Only because an aquaintance of mine was caught a couple of years ago. He served 2 years, in a private cell, in a wing of the prison set aside only for foreigners.

He was intimidated in questioning, but nothing close to torture.

Another 'friend' was suspected of dealing, served 7 months in the same fashion. No torture there either.

Imbroglio · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:03 am Post subject:

that's insane!

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Don't do drugs in Korea period. It's just not worth it.

Gatsby · Joined: 09 Feb 2007

Endo

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Well basically your arguments supports legalization of drugs. At least in North America.

But I do agree that Korean is probably a safer place because of the non-existant hard drug scene here. Save for alcohol of course.

However, I think Korean young adults are missing out on a little bit of growing up. I mean I had some fantastic memories from smokong herb or dropping schrooms at the lake while I was in University. Life changing ones in fact.

Gatsby · Joined: 09 Feb 2007

No, legalization was not my point. I'm all for a libertarian approach, in theory. But what I've seen of things develop in the States says that too many people can't handle drugs in a sensible fashion, legal or illegal. Maybe in Canada or Holland, things are different. But in the States, early on in the spread of drugs it went from being an enlightenment thing to being an extension of the six-pack greaser crowd thing. Too often in the States drugs are seen as a mindless form of diversion, rather than a mind-expanding quest. And it is a sort of macho thing to show you can do it, and do a lot of it, much like teenage drinking of beer. The States is the poster child for why drugs are a bad thing.

This is a shame. I think if you looked at the history of many cultures, you would see that drugs played a role on an intellectual and spiritual level. This includes Western culture. One of the symbolic aspects of alchemy seems to have been drug use to expand consciousness. It is curious that old alchemists used to talk about seeking the "philosopher's stone." And then when drugs came along in the 60s, people described it as "getting stoned." Why "stoned?" I can't help wonder whether someone involved in establishing the lingo was aware of the connection.

In the States, too many people use drugs as an escape. I think this is in part because there is more in the States that people want to escape from. Too many unhappy people.

Some people here rag on Korea. But it seems to me people are happier here, at least where I am. I don't think drugs would even hold much of an appeal to many of them. But I don't want to find out.

Obviously, anyone who wants to mix drugs with teaching would go elsewhere, such as Thailand, from what I hear. When you decide to come to Korea, you are deciding not to do drugs. I think most people understand that.

An earlier poster was right on the money. Not only should you not do drugs, you should stay as far away from anyone who does, expat or Korean, as possible.

On the other hand, from looking at some of the posts, especially in the Current Events queue, some of the poster's minds are so muddled, that doing drugs might actually help them to think more clearly.

Alyallen · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:23 am Post subject:

I teach elementary school students...I couldn't imagine them on drugs because quite a few would probably lose their minds. As far as I'm concerned, this place is a real pressure cooker so I don't know what's worse, kids so depressed that they jump from buildings or kids so depressed that they do drugs and still somehow "live"....

That's all I wanted to say...Oh and yeah...don't do drugs here in Korea. The system will be very stacked against you and it's just not worth it. The inside of a Korean prison is not a pretty place especially if you are on prison for drugs. Apparently (maybe not all prisons) but one that I know of gives uniforms of different colors based on different offenses. Now, it would be bad enough to be an ethnic minority in a prison but when you are clearly the freak who did drugs.....not good.....

jay-shi · Joined: 09 May 2004 Location: On tour

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

I think your story is 100% untrue. Only because an aquaintance of mine was caught a couple of years ago. He served 2 years, in a private cell, in a wing of the prison set aside only for foreigners.

He was intimidated in questioning, but nothing close to torture.

Another 'friend' was suspected of dealing, served 7 months in the same fashion. No torture there either.

Brother One Cell.

Brother One Cell.

Brother One Cell.

READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.whatthebook.com/book/9780670038275?

Thats all I have to say about the subject of drugs and torture in Korean prisons. Wait, one more thought: you would have to be pretty fking dumb to do drugs here.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

gajackson1 · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

C & I have a longtime friend her, who just happens to be a federal judge. I'd trust the conversation we had about it once:

Someone only needs to report you for suspicion, and can do so anonymously. You have the right to refuse the p-test. And of course a blood test. But they DO have & will use the hair sample test here.

Much like how laws have changed in the USA in the past few years, you CAN be detained, tried & convicted of even otherwise legal usage in another country (example: you stop in a coffee house, buy it legally - paying taxes in the process! - smoke it there, and then go on with life). Do not expect any 'rights' - even if you have a K-spouse who is on it right away. Telephone calls? Counsel? It could happen, eventually -

At the point where there is 'reasonable suspicion,' the police are free to contact your employer and/or landlord (if they aren't one in the same). Your house, office, vehicle, etc. is subject to a search, and your cell phone & computer - with anything on/in them - are fair game.

Some people may have noticed a clause in their contract about breaking Korean laws? yep - they have you there, too.

IN KOREA, WHETHER KOREAN OR NOT, YOU ARE GENERALLY GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT. It is the way the law is set up, and why a lot of people will tell you to threaten to take even small things to court here - no jury system (as of now), and judges are genrally unsympathetic to the accused (although a number really do try to be fair).

I know plenty of people who have dealt with such situations. It is NOT worth it, IMHO.

In Ch'ang-won, I had a nutty roommate who though i somehow had acquired a gun, and was keeping it in our apartment. This is almost 10 years ago; fortunately, my employer was very understanding, but it was still a nightmare and a half.

Fair warned, all -

Regards,

~G~

~G~

Alyallen · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:09 am Post subject: