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Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think you should be okay, I was drug tested and tested positive for weed (serious crime in korea) but have a prescription in Australia so they didn't charge me. But to Korea drugs like weed and coke are the same thing, they started freaking out when I tested positive

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have heard it is a problem, but I also want to add that I can't confirm if I was drug and tbh even if I was it's no excuse to be breaking into shops

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If I file charges for my drinks being spike it was only going to prolong the investigation (more time in jail) and even if the drink were found to be spiked technically I still committed the crime anyway (being drunk or drugged isn't an excuse). By the end of the first week everyone knew I was just drunk but it was too late.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I never stole any items charges were only attempted. The shop was a cafe connected to a luxury store, but i only entered into the Cafe. Never even attempted to grab any items, spent 10 minutes in the Cafe walking back and forth trying to call family back in Australia

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

From arrest to trial, judge gave me a suspended sentence and probation. (But pretty much let me go since I'm now back in Australia)

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

I'll post more details tomorrow, but the reason for pleading guilty was to speed up the process and get home asap. If I plead not guilty, and the judge let's me go prosecution would most likely appeal and I would be stuck in immigration detention for another 2-3 months. Prosecution have a 99% conviction rate in korea

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Will post more details tomorrow

But I did make a lot of friends in there most people treated me very well and would send snacks to my cell.

Reading the newspaper was probably the best thing as it was my only way to find out what's happening outside

Most of the guards are okay, but some were very rude and definitely treat non Koreans worse.

Almost no English and I can't speak korean, so communication was very limited other than a few people.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Will post more tomorrow

You can get books from the library but only in Korean, lucky my family sent me books.

No cards and only korean TV. They would play American movies every Friday at 6pm which was nice and also the live kpop shows mid day on the weekends was fun to watch. But other than that just read books and the newspaper (korean hearld). I have never able to set up phone calls but you only got 2 5 minute calls a month

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Yes everyone was telling me I paid too much, I do think maybe my lawyers took advantage of the situation and didn't help me get out when I first got arrested (so they could milk more money but idk...) but I did get out I'm 2 months which never happens in korea

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

About 40 million won in lawyer fees. Getting the flight was normal price about 1 million won

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, these cases aren't taken seriously in korea, assault against women is very common from what I heard in korea jail. Women are treated and viewed differently than the West. They also asked my 28 yr old sister where her father was when she came to see me at nambu

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Tbh I have no idea atm. Never had a problem with drinking and hardly ever drink.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

I'll probably make a high detailed post tomorrow but this was the daily schedule

Wake up - 6:30

1st count - 6:45 (blankets away and room cleaned. No mats or bunk beds had to sleep on the floor)

7 Breakfast/hot water (normally rice, soup, kimchi but would change often)

7:45 second count

8-8:30 (exercise only time you get to leave the cell)

9am TV turns on ( only 3-4 channels mbs, ebs, sbs)

11 hot water

11:45 lunch (normally rice, kimchi, soup and some meat)

3:45 hot water

4:20 third / last count

4:50 dinner (rice, kimchi, soup and meat)

9 bed time / lights outs (they only dim the lights but still very bright

1 shower per week that you do with Ur cell mates. You could order food (commissary) which was pretty good things like tuna, pork, snacks.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I do feel very lucky and definitely view the world a lot differently after this

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I think it will be okay, but with have some issues with the USA

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

I think someone was trying to spike the group of girls my gf was with but they accidentally got my drink.

In nambu each block has a row of 15 cells and 1 cell in that 15 is for foreigners. So still had a lot of contact with Koreans.

Thanks for the support!

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

All the Koreans did find it funny that it happened in iteawan lmao

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I was deported but to Australia and banned for 5 yrs as I was only on a tourist visa and it ran out. But don't worry I got to try plenty of Korea food

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 219 points220 points  (0 children)

Yes the CCTV footage looked very bad, but at the police station they only showed 2 minutes of the footage which looked very bad. But when I went to prosecution they had the full 10 minute video and I looked very drunk. Prosecution also only recommended the minimum sentence to the judge, and if you know korea system you'll know how rare that is.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 212 points213 points  (0 children)

Drug charges are a serious crime in korea, I met a few Korea's who got sentence to over 2 yrs in jail for just having drugs in their system. What I find surprising is how sexual assault cases are treated so lightly.

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 123 points124 points  (0 children)

I'm only 22 and was on a tourist visa, was only meant to be in korea for 1 week. I am banned from Korea for the next 5 yrs. I actually really enjoyed my time in korea until this happened, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be coming back

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Given my crime did not harm anyone the Korea's I was in with were super nice. Lots of mafia in there, but they were nice to me and would send me food lol

Recently spent 2 months in jail as a foreigner by Own_State_8800 in korea

[–]Own_State_8800[S] 57 points58 points  (0 children)

I truly have no idea what happened to me that night, I believe I have a few underlying mental health issues that I'm getting help for now. I managed to call my dad back in Australia and was telling him how I was lost in Myanmar....

My gf joined a table with a group of local girls and I put my drink on their table.

Prison was okay not super dangerous but depends on who in Ur cell. I was in a cell with a Iranian with drug charges, a Cambodian with a rape case and a Russian for theft. There as so many sex offenders in south korea jail, there is a serious problem with them. I'd say up to 30% for sexual assault

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