HiKorea - Korean Immigration issues rant: Korea = Windows only

[shigzeo]

Right, so everyone knows that Windows dominates the market; that isn't the issue here. The issue is that in Korea, if you don't use Windows AND Internet Explorer, you cannot do anything. Oh yes, and you have to register for everything with your SIN/Citizen's number.

So, in order to go to the government's immigration website (strange since people from all over the world should be able to log in), HiKorea, it doesn't rightly work even in Firefox on Mac. Safari shows an 'oops' page, and well, this is typical.

I didn't get a work visa before coming here: in order to do that, I have to sign my life over to a pirate private company and didn't trust any. So, I came, looked around and only now am finding suitable work. It's been almost a year. My mates have been hired/fired a gazillion times by these places and I have no interest in signing myself over to one.

My very lovely wife has been very patient as I twiddle my thumbs ad-hocing around, but honestly, I don't want to belong to one of these organisations which spits on the law, then shoves it in your face. My mate was fired for being half Indian, then fired for having glasses, then fired because he wasn't blonde, and finally, because he walks with a limp. Even if I only fit the bill for one of those (I just dyed my hair yellow, so I should be a GRAB), I hate the idea; the system is sleazy.

But, what should I expect? No country makes easy to get a work visa - there has to be a healthy amount of protection for citizens and being second class is expected. So too is red tape. But, I've never seen soooo much red tape. I cannot even get a point card at supermarket because I am not Korean. Same too with an iPhone, or any smartphone. My wife cannot get a credit card - in Canada, they practically threw one at her.

How bout this: you order a 20$ item from across the pond and somehow, shipping needed to be rushed, so you pay 155$ for it. Well, the waybill mentions that the item is worth only 20$... but... that doesn't matter; customs charges shipping into the price! so that your item costs more than the 150$ it is allowed! Crazy? Silly? yes.

Koreans have been under the thumb of one mob or another since the Korean War. Now it is the faceless mask of large corporations. Samsung is the largest in the world, comprises 20% of Korea's exports, owns everything here. In such an atmosphere, why would I expect even a government page to prop its infrastructure on anything but a monopole? Here, there is one option: get used to it.

Yet, I want to get involved; God only knows it ain't to 'teach' English.

[ChiffaN]

Shiggs, I feel for you, I really do, but speaking of Windows and IE - there is a Firefox addon called Coral IE Tab that basically emulates the IE engine completely thus allowing to view any site IE style. Hope this helps )

[NineSwords]

You could always start to play StarCraft professionally.

But all kidding aside, this seems like a really hard place to get used to, but I guess China is worse from what you get to hear fromt he country over here. And you can always start to play StarCraft for cash.

Did you try one of the gazillion Game companies? I guess it shouldn't be to hard to at least find a job there where they need a correspondent with a proper understanding of the english language. and even though canadians talk funny, I'd say that the typical korean don't get the difference.

[shigzeo]

You may be right Nine - and Chiffy, thanks for the tip! There are a lot of gaming companies, that's for sure. Maybe my good English will put me in good stead... maybe. But I am not a good gamer; I think my reviews cover the fact that my brain/fingers/coordination/processes are backward.

[NineSwords]

You know what I learned from playing against my daughters is that playing against a really bad gamer is actually harder than palying against someone who is experienced but not as good as you.

[shigzeo]

I think I'm just not good at games. I taught my sister how to play chess and then she beat me consecutively three times.