This post doesn't fit with my theme, but I thought it would be helpful to get up to date information. I did a lot of research before I came, but not all blogs have dates. So this is current as of November 3, 2010. Follow this link to find out precisely what you need, gathering the documents can take some time.
You now need a federal background check before you can get a visa. A DUI can prevent you from getting a visa. This is a new change, I think it started in September. When I came here all I needed was a state background check. You will also need things to get an Apostille. (This information is only true for Americans, if you are an Aussie or a Brit, I don't know what you have to do, sorry.) In North Carolina this can all be done through the mail once you get everything notarized. If they try to tell you they can't notarize something tell them they can go to the state website and get a cover sheet where they fill out information about you, them and the document being notarized. There is nothing really official about a notarization expect to say that it is a true copy or signature.
If time is an issue you can go to the Secretary of State in your state and get it done that day. Once you have been issued a visa registration number you have to then go to the Korean Embassy in your district. This may require a lot of driving and possibly a night in a hotel, so be prepared. In Washington D.C. where I got mine I could only get an interview during a two hour period twice a week. After the interview I had to go back the next day to pick up my passport. On the link above is a list of the districts and their phone numbers to get the information about your particular area of the country.
I had two phone interviews with two different schools so all I can say about them is that they are easy and not worth the stress you would place on an interview at home. They ask you if you like kids, why you want to be a teacher, why you want to go to Korea (do a little research) and why you would be good at the job. Speak clearly, don't use slang if you can help it and don't speak at full speed. Don't talk slowly, you might insult them, but remember you are receiving a call from the other side of the world. I did my calls on my cell phone which I do not recommended, if you have access to a land line use that. You will also receive the call late at night due to the time change.
Now to the scary stuff. You got fired. It happens. I have heard of people getting fired in their 11th month. Be assured their is a procedure that must be followed and if it is not followed you can go to the labor board to complain. I know people who have gotten a severance from their past employer because of wrongful termination. Most employers think you don't know about the labor board or that you will be too scared to go to them. This is Korea, not some tiny backwards country no one has heard of. People on Dave's ESL Cafe recommend this firm if you do find yourself in a bad situation. But remember that coming to Korea is first and foremost a job not a vacation so don't be a jerk and make the rest of us look bad.
What to pack? I did a lot of research on this as well. Here's what I recommend.
Winter Coat- the winter here lasts 6 months and it gets really cold so be prepared
Bathing suit- it gets really freaking hot here in the summer so hit the beach and unless you are Korean sized
you won't be able to find one here
Hiking Boots- Korea is very mountainous, if your feet are on the smaller side you can get some boots here
but if you are a woman and you wear something bigger than an 8 the pickins will be slim unless you don't mind wearing men's shoes
New sneakers- You don't have a car anymore and you will walk more than you ever have in your life, be
prepared
Bras- Ladies unless you are a B or smaller you can forget about finding one here so stock up same for undies
Jeans- again the sizing is the issue not the availability
Bottom and top sheet- Get a Queen size. The beds here are longer than a full so you need the extra inches, they also don't sell top sheets here so if you want one you'll need to bring it
Towel- Koreans use a towel the size of a hand towel, so if you like to cover up after a shower, bring one
Makeup- foundation will be the tricky thing here, everything else you can get at the millions of skin product
stores
Deodorant- It's hard to find and expensive so go to Costco and stock up
Tampons- They are VERY expensive about $8 for 20, stock up and beg your mom for a care package
Toothpaste- I have used Korean toothpaste, but my students all have bad teeth. I don't know if thats all the
candy they eat to stay awake through 12 hours of school or because the water doesn't have fluoride in it or because of the toothopaste but I had a friend send me another tube last month just in case.
Variety of over the counter meds you can't live without- There are pharmacies everywhere and you can get what you need, but sometimes I just want some Nyquil or Tums or Midol because I know what these things do, its more of a comfort thing than an availability thing. You can still get tylenol here so thats a plus.
DO NOT BRING DRUGS YOU WILL GET CAUGHT AND YOU WILL GET DEPORTED OR IMPRISONED. IF YOU CAN'T GO ONE YEAR WITHOUT IT YOU SHOULDN'T COME HERE!!!!!
Other than that you should be able to find everything else that you need. If you live in a small town or village you should ask the other teachers what they think you should bring in addition to the above. Korea has a high speed train so you get to the big cities quickly if you are desperate need of something. There are also lots of western stores here. If you are overweight though, I suggest you bring as much as you can and spring for the shipping on anything you forgot, there's not a lot for those of us over a size 6.
I brought a book of DVDs with me for when I get homesick. I was pleasantly surprised to find several stations on TV that show American shows in English with Korean subtitles here. They also show movies on the weekends. The theaters usually have the big movies from home with subtitles of course though sometimes they come out after they do at home. Then there is downloading. I cannot advocate it, but it is a common practice here.
The subways are great and they are in English. The buses are a different matter, though that is slowly improving. You can get KTX tickets online and the trains run, in Daegu at least, every 15 minutes. There are also slow trains, but they are more difficult to get information on. They are improving the KTX site though, so who knows by next week it could all be easy as pie.
There are lots of ex-pat bars and sometimes I forget I am in a foreign country because there won't be a Korean in the place expect for the bartender. You should make a Korean friend though, more if you can. they will invite you over for dinner, show you the ropes, tell you the good places to go and help you translate when you are trying to travel or book a hotel. I don't know what I would do without my Korean friends. The YMCA is a great place to learn the language, I wish I had done it sooner. Good luck.
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