Jobs Without a Degree

why not look into the holiday visa, or even the student visa. i don't know the particulars, but give that a try first. i believe that student visa's legally allow students to work up to 20 hours. i'm not 100% sure on that, but that would be my first step. immigration hotline is 1345.

I thought about the student visa. However, he'd have to be admitted into a University here in Korea first. He speaks NO Korean. I know that there are a few programs for English speakers in Universities up in Seoul, but since I live in Busan that's where he'd be! 

So I guess that's another good question to ask. Anyone know of any good University undergraduate programs for international students in Busan (non-exchange based)?

Thanks for the immigration hotline number Travis. 

Silla university offers programs to people who don't speak korean =) you might want to give them a call though because their english information isnt displayed on the website. I know because I had a friend who was in that situation and she studying there now with no knowledge of korean.

All of the advice above consists of being a student enrolled in university back home or here. I  don't think that's what you are asking?

I think he is out of luck unless he finds a native to marry right away and get the F2 visa. Then he could teach English even without a degree. A degree for F2,F4,F5 is just an inhouse criteria, it has nothing to do with gaining visa status unlike the E class visas; E1,E2 where it is condition #1.    

Thank you Lee. 

Yeah, I realized quickly that it would be pretty much impossible for him to find a job (even non-English related) without a degree. 

So, we're going the University route. Hoping to find a good University in Busan for him to enter as an international student.  Thank you for your input. 

I appreciate everyone's advice/suggestions/information sharing!

Dear Auggie

You might want to check into Korean language programs offered at universities. Often they will sponsor a student visa. This might be a lower cost option than a full university program and might only require a couple hourse a day of classes.

The reason why I know these exist is because my university offered such a program years ago. Unfortunately it failed miserable because of many factors. The most paramount being that  all the students, Chinese nationals, ran away.Admin. thinks they simply used the visa to get here and then after networking to find an illegal job simply vanished into the industrial park abyss.

I really don't think your relative is in this boat, I think things could work out differently for him especially with family here.

Hi Al.

Does the having a F2 and no Degree apply to home schooling??? ie Hogwan.

I am having to go back home and do 2 years to finish my degree and then come back, so if the info is correct I could stay here?!   Problem is like you said its an in house prerequisite and they always ask for the degree!!!

I have ALWAYS been told a degree is compulsory.     

No, not at all. That's the biggest myth out othere. Anything in home school wise if you want it legal would be in your wife's name anyway. There is nothing on the paperwork (korean) with the MOE that requires a degree by your wife or yourself. All of these Mrs.Key's English teachers are just housewives for the most part with little to no English ability at all!!! 

Degrees are simply in-house conditions, they are required for visa issuance of E visas,nothing more.

 A university or college or even a gov't school will probably not hire you based on this but legality wise; not a problem.  

Dear G

If you plan on doing a studyroom only, a degree is not needed. I have been teaching in my wife's studyroom for years and I have never once been asked by a mother if I have a degree or been asked to provide proof of such.

If you want to finish for personal reasons then by all means do so but don't go home. That's two years wasted where you could be working here, making money and studying. That in my books that is easily a $50,000 turn around and I'm low balling it.  Do you really want to work in a pizza shop part time  if you could even get a job back home now working  for tips when you can stay here in an air-con room and color, play uno, do crossword puzzles with kids for 40,000w/class clear?

I don't think there is a school around that doesn't have a distance education program which you could finish entirely from here. Don't go home, it's a fool's errand.

I think you have to have a Tutor's license from Board of Education- u will need a degree for that.It's a big fine , abt 5m without it.

Hi,

What about hotel jobs? I see a lot of people working there...there are lots of different departments there!

Cheers..

But lets be real here.  If he does come here with no degree and wants to teach then his chances of getting work are relatively high, his chances of getting caught are relatively low and the penalties are relatively minimal (especially for someone with nothing invested in the country).

Anyway, most universities have Korean language programs.  I know the one at Pukyong National university is reasonably popular.  A lot of universities also have departments like International Studies that teach only in English.  I also know that Youngsan university in Pusan is making every Professor teach at least two courses solely in English but I'm not sure how that is going.

There are service industry jobs but the pay is incredibly low.  If he's good looking and fit and his personal trainer's certificate then working at a gym here may be an option but it would require cold canvassing.  I know one foreigner who was offered work in one of the biggest gyms in Pusan just through being a client.

Actually, when my wife did the paperwork for the studyroom years ago all that was required by the MOE was a high-school diploma.

Tutor's license is a good idea but you have to remember, gov't people know little to nothing about their jobs. That's why they work for the gov't. You can go down there today, ask/answer get no where. come back tomorrow and get a totally different set of rules and regulations.

I remember once having a fierce argument at the land registry office and a gov't woman stooge there telling me it was 'impossible' for foreigners to own land in Korea. Funny as I have an apt. in my name here. When all was said and done she ate some crow.