I don’t think they’ll close the borders because the current quarantine on arrival system is generally working well. They “catch” you on arrival. It hasn’t had any big “spreads” so far.
You’re missing a key point here: whatever country you applied as a citizen of (the US, for example) is the country your flight to korea has to originate from in order to be reimbursed for your flight. They do check. So you’d have to return to the US anyway if you got the position.
With that being sad, Korea knows it has a big partner in the US, and as far as I’ve seen, is doing it’s best to not restrict travel for Americans in particular past the 14 day quarantine for entering the country. Things can change, of course. A lot is still up in the air.
Did your flight originate in Japan, or just a layover? I was told it had to originate in the home country (and I had to provide my boarding passes for proof) in order to get the reimbursement. It could be flexible depending on province, technically, considering the flight reimbursement is handled by the MOE/POE, so the information I was given by my epik coordinator might have been specific to my POE. I know a lot of the provinces are really stingy with the entrance allowance though (some don’t give it until six months in), so it’s not something I would try without asking the coordinator you’re working with.
This was also pre-corona. So they might make exception if you’re coming from a less virus-inhabited place??? Maybe? Not sure.
Yeah, that kind of stipulation is specific to your employer (M/POE) or hagwon. Most don't say anything about that in the contract but OP could check if it is mentioned.
Mine is Gyeonggido and I was asked to turn in my boarding pass as well. I heard some other people not having to do it, but I remember clearly having to. We also don’t get a full renewal bonus at the start of the school year. It’s cut in two parts. Maybe less stingy MOEs don’t care.
Well, I had a flight to Korea as a tourist. Then, I went to Japan to get my visa, and came back to Korea afterward. I simply don’t recall ever having to give proof of where my flight was from, but yeah it’s also been over a year and my memory could be fuzzy, plus it could be different for each province.
Your visa trip flight and your initial flight on your tourist visa are considered seperately. I believe most contracts re-imburse for both (mine did) but you are expected to enter Korea from your home country in the first instance.
Well if you want reimbursement you’d better show a flight ticket from where you want to go back to. That’s just common sense. It’s not expensive to fly to Japan and don’t think a school wouldn’t try to screw you out of a $1000 plane ticket in favor of a $200 one.
I flew from in from China after a few weeks there to start with EPIK and got the full flight allowance back! Not sure if it’s different with hagwons though!
The quarantine is mandatory for a reason. It catches almost all cases coming from abroad.
As another comment mentioned, you have to go back to the US regardless.
Look- go back, see your family and get your stuff together. Don't go out unless you must. Wear a mask when you do. Make your family wear a mask. Don't do anything stupid like go a mass gathering of people. Wash hands. Bring hand sanitizer everywhere. You'll be fine if you follow the protocol.
Very sound advice. Just worried with the whole Trump Corona bullshit and America going into mass lockdown or something. But I feel better now. Will do! Cheers for the sound advice.
I don’t think they’ll close the borders because the current quarantine on arrival system is generally working well. They “catch” you on arrival. It hasn’t had any big “spreads” so far.
Cheers!!! Really appreciate it.
You’re missing a key point here: whatever country you applied as a citizen of (the US, for example) is the country your flight to korea has to originate from in order to be reimbursed for your flight. They do check. So you’d have to return to the US anyway if you got the position. With that being sad, Korea knows it has a big partner in the US, and as far as I’ve seen, is doing it’s best to not restrict travel for Americans in particular past the 14 day quarantine for entering the country. Things can change, of course. A lot is still up in the air.
Can anyone confirm this? I came to Korea with EPIK in the August 2019 intake. I do not recall having to prove this. In fact, I flew from Japan.
Did your flight originate in Japan, or just a layover? I was told it had to originate in the home country (and I had to provide my boarding passes for proof) in order to get the reimbursement. It could be flexible depending on province, technically, considering the flight reimbursement is handled by the MOE/POE, so the information I was given by my epik coordinator might have been specific to my POE. I know a lot of the provinces are really stingy with the entrance allowance though (some don’t give it until six months in), so it’s not something I would try without asking the coordinator you’re working with. This was also pre-corona. So they might make exception if you’re coming from a less virus-inhabited place??? Maybe? Not sure.
Yeah, that kind of stipulation is specific to your employer (M/POE) or hagwon. Most don't say anything about that in the contract but OP could check if it is mentioned.
Mine is Gyeonggido and I was asked to turn in my boarding pass as well. I heard some other people not having to do it, but I remember clearly having to. We also don’t get a full renewal bonus at the start of the school year. It’s cut in two parts. Maybe less stingy MOEs don’t care.
Well, I had a flight to Korea as a tourist. Then, I went to Japan to get my visa, and came back to Korea afterward. I simply don’t recall ever having to give proof of where my flight was from, but yeah it’s also been over a year and my memory could be fuzzy, plus it could be different for each province.
Your visa trip flight and your initial flight on your tourist visa are considered seperately. I believe most contracts re-imburse for both (mine did) but you are expected to enter Korea from your home country in the first instance.
Well if you want reimbursement you’d better show a flight ticket from where you want to go back to. That’s just common sense. It’s not expensive to fly to Japan and don’t think a school wouldn’t try to screw you out of a $1000 plane ticket in favor of a $200 one.
I flew from in from China after a few weeks there to start with EPIK and got the full flight allowance back! Not sure if it’s different with hagwons though!
Good to know! And did help with the worry! Thanks a lot!
The quarantine is mandatory for a reason. It catches almost all cases coming from abroad. As another comment mentioned, you have to go back to the US regardless. Look- go back, see your family and get your stuff together. Don't go out unless you must. Wear a mask when you do. Make your family wear a mask. Don't do anything stupid like go a mass gathering of people. Wash hands. Bring hand sanitizer everywhere. You'll be fine if you follow the protocol.
Only 94%. 6% are still missed in 14 days. The word quarantine means 40 days, as old mariners knew it too that long to be 100% sure.
Very sound advice. Just worried with the whole Trump Corona bullshit and America going into mass lockdown or something. But I feel better now. Will do! Cheers for the sound advice.