“Starting February 11, 2008, the Korean Consulate in Vancouver will accept a Self-Introductory
CD to lessen the burden of face-to-face interviews for those who live outside B.C. Therefore,
non-B.C. residents such as those who live in AB, SK, Yukon, NWT can either have a face to
face interview at the Korean Consulate in Vancouver OR submit a Self-Introductory CD when
applying for an E-2 Visa. After reviewing the visa applicant’s CD and application form, a Consul
may contact the applicant for further questions if necessary. Please note that the Korean
Consulate in Vancouver will NOT return this CD to the visa applicant. This option is NOT for
those who live outside Canada.”

http://can-vancouver.mofat.go.kr/eng/am/can-vancouver/visiting/visacategories/index.jsp#e2

In the UK too the Korean embassy require photocopies of your criminal check certificate and degree AFTER the Korean immigration have checked and processed them and given you your visa code. As I didn’t know this I turned up at the embassy in London to be sent away and told I needed these pointless photocopies which would prove nothing! This seemed to imply that the embassy couldn’t trust the immigration in Korea!

——

After my ordeal I swore to write to the Korean immigration in Korea once I got back protesting at this. Only now I feel that if I did it would have 0% impact, largely because it would be written in English.

Do you think that anyone has told Korean immigration directly about the ridiculousness of their visa regulations and the harm it is doing?

Would either of you consider writing a letter in Korean to them?

I am well considering writing one and getting it translated to send to lots of people who might actually take notice. The next task will be figuring out who these people are.

What constitutes a genuine cultural experience in Korea? Going to a church for 10 hours where the congregation seems to think Jesus spoke English? Going to a red light district, getting drunk and naked and laid together with your coworkers on the company expense account? How about going to a jazz bar that openly discriminates against black people? Or having your female coworker called a “whore” for stopping and talking to you on the street?

You state that it’s a fact that white male teachers “misbehave” more than any other segment of the population, well could you site your sources? What statistics do you have to back that up? And what constitutes misbehavior? Prostitution is illegal in Korea, and yet 4% of the GDP is spent on prostitutes. Is that not misbehavior?

As far as male privilege goes, I’ve had several Korean women tell me they can’t stand gyopo men. They say that gyopo men are very arrogant about being bilingual and having dual-citizenship, and seem to think that Korean women should fall at their feet.

i think most countries have similar requirements. I had done medical exam for hiv, tb, and vaccination for mmr, td, etc. i also had to swear not to have a baby within 3 months to have rubella shot which can cause deformation of baby.
for the criminal record, since i had lived in Philippines more than 6month, us immigration required police record from Phil. and Korea.

it’s incombursome to go through the u.s. visa process, but for now there is no way around it. hopefully things will get better.

Right is right and wrong is wrong, in general.

Jennifer, as you mentioned, it is hard for Koreans to recognize what’s wrong and what’s getting worse with our system dealing with foreigners. So, I do believe it is valueable and thanksful advice of your guys as our friends. And, I believe you guys also understand my descriptions on the U.S. Immigration policies in that point of view.

Yes, the situation would be a bit less inconvenient for Koreans visiting the U.S. in short term. However, it won’t change the fundamental because a lot of Chinese or Malaysians still would be picked up arbiturary in the long waiting line of Immigration services at LAX or J.F.K. by the immigration detectives(?) and having hard times. Also, a lot of Vietnamies would be treated improperly by the Korean Immigration Officers.

Anyway, this is what I love this site. Deep conversation and a valiety of spectrum.

I haven’t paid attention to the Korean visa system simply because I am a Korean. It’s first time to get to know the details thanks to this episode. Oops, it’s getting closer to the American system. Does it mean that Korea is getting bigger and stronger enough?

Basically, I totally agree with Mike’s and Jennifer’s points of view and I appreciate pointing that out. That stupid visa system would be of disbenifit to this country and people eventually.
Moreover, there are other groups of foreigners (and non-officially but historically presumed gyopos) from China, CIS, and South East Asian countries who could not even get the visas for completely ridiculous, regulation-breakning, ignorant, racistic reasons.
Shame on the bureaucracy, idiot government officials, and citizens supporting them.

Mike,
I know you are writing on OhMyNews. I wonder if you have an idea to write an article on this issue. If you would, I’m willing to help you do the job.