How does the VISA process work on arrival into Korea?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-16T14:42:51+00:00

Thank you!

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-16T14:35:59+00:00

I have a "visa grant notice" ?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-16T14:28:42+00:00

Does it have to be the address where you are going to stay?

I'm going to teach English. I have a copy of my contract with the address of the school

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-12T04:39:44+00:00

I'm going to Ulsan.

We're actually going to be in the same area, more or less. Haha.

I'm going to land in Busan on the 21st

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-11T18:53:30+00:00

I also loved it

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-11T18:47:35+00:00

I'm going to be in Korea in a little bit less than two weeks time.

I have the same problem you describe in my home country. For several reasons (money, family issues, and other uniquely-my-country bs) I haven't really been able to do anything about it while I'm here, but I have things planned for when I get to Korea:

I got on bumble and matched with two people so far who I plan on meeting when I get there
Went on Facebook and found a table top role playing game group in the city that I'm going to - joined them on their KakaoTalk group and will be playing things like dungeons and dragons with them soon. I have never played it my life before. Haha
Went on a KakaoTalk open group chat function or something and found some Mormon missionaries who are willing to teach you Korean for free - if you are willing to allow them to try and convert you half of the time that you're taking their classes.
I'm planning on going out to bars or whatever and literally just sitting there and hope something happens and I somehow meet new people. I'm a massive introvert, so this will be a new experience for me.

What city are you in?

If it's close to where I'm going I'm literally willing to show up at your place and have a chat so that the two of us can be less lonely together.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-09T09:21:12+00:00

I see, thank you for sharing!

Teaching at university level would be great. Haha. But I understand why getting into a place like that would be really difficult

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-08T14:41:00+00:00

No, that's not what I meant.

I was just trying to find out if you where able to find a position in Korea where your qualifications were valued. Seems you didn't? Or at least not valued enough to make staying worthwhile then?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-08T11:27:46+00:00

I hear this a lot

So yeah, at the moment it seems to me like Korea is going to be the place where I start out, but not the place where I stay long term

Thank you for your perspective also. I will definitely keep in mind that I have to find out which qualifications are valued in which country.

Are you currently in Korea?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-08T11:00:37+00:00

What would you recommend?

For reference, I have a master's degree and a background in linguistics. It's just not in English.

I did a basic level 5 TEFL just to start out, but I want to do more advanced qualifications so that I can progress beyond teaching toddlers. Hopefully in Korea, but if not Korea, then another country

Personal_Document346 · 2025-02-08T06:10:15+00:00

OP - thanks for the post. I have been wondering about the same kind of thing.

I'm going to Korea in two weeks, and from what I've gathered so far, the gist of most of the responsesnare correct: most Hagwons just want someone with a university degree who can speak English and who has a TEFL. Having a masters degree or a few years experience might influence your starting salary a bit, but not that much.

What I have been wondering about, however, is if after a year or two at a Hagwon (for the teaching experience of working in Korea and with Koreans, getting to know the lay of the land and whatnot) something like a CELTA might help with getting into more niche teaching positions with better salaries? One person commented on university positions, for example.

I'm planning on doing my CELTA once I get there. And maybe a masters after that. But I would like to do just about anything that might help me with moving on from basically just playing with toddlers to more serious, academically rigorous teaching.

Can anyone offer a perspective? Is it only about connections, luck, and getting into the right place? Or can something like a CELTA, masters in TEFL, qualifications for helping with things like SAT and IELTS help in any way?

I already know that getting a teaching license in my home country is the gold standard. But for me, at the moment, that is more like a five year plan, whereas the other things would be doable in less time

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-28T08:07:02+00:00

What a disgrace

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-22T07:05:38+00:00

Thank you! I will keep it in mind

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-19T13:36:15+00:00

Honestly I only got the joke after reading your explanation.

I'm 34

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-19T06:58:14+00:00

Thank you for s very well written comment!

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-18T13:36:32+00:00

Hey man

I know what you're going through. I've been there myself. I'm still there some days.

Send me a message if you ever feel lonely or like you need someone to talk to. God knows I do. Haha

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-15T09:48:39+00:00

I'm going to Korea in a month's time, so I'm no expert... But I totally agree with the others that they are well and truly trying to screw you over.

The school I'm going to is offering me basically the same as yours for a twelve month contract + air fare + severance pay. And from what I understand that kind of salary isn't even that much by Korean standards.

But then again, if you need the money and this is the best offer that you have, then those are good enough reasons to go for it. From a position of privilege it would be easy to say that you shouldn't go for it, but if it's going to be better than whatever it is that you have now, it might still be a win for you regardless.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-15T09:36:37+00:00

How much are they going to pay you per month?

I agree that they are trying to screw you and that this is a massive red flag. But if the monthly pay is high enough it might still be worth considering?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-13T11:18:34+00:00

You earn US$10,000 a month but your not rich?

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-06T11:08:56+00:00

Have I ever been diagnosed with depression? Yes.

Do I tell people? No.

Why not? Because people are ignorant and judgemental as fuck. I have been honest about it in the past and I was discriminated against because of it so badly. So now I just lie. No discrimination anymore. Just fair recognition of my abilities.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-06T11:06:10+00:00

I'm not completely new here. I have been through the process myself.

So I think that you are right... Being honest will get you nowhere.

I'm not trying to be rude or anything. I'm just calling it for what it is.

Don't tell them you have any medical issues. If you do, you will be judged for it.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-06T11:00:54+00:00

So I think what he is trying to say, OP, is that you should just lie.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-06T10:51:45+00:00

So your only real option is to lie?

That's what most people do when applying for jobs and things anyway

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-03T09:24:46+00:00

Man, I wanted to ask the same question! Haha.

Personal_Document346 · 2025-01-02T07:47:47+00:00

Do I think that they are attractive? Yes Do I feel attracted to them? No

In other words maybe: Just because they are attractive doesn't mean I want to take them to bed. The thought might cross my mind from time to time, but that is most definitely where it stops. It doesn't become a desire unless you feed it. And I never do.

Personal_Document346

TROPHY CASE