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Nearly got baited into deportation?
« on: September 20, 2022, 02:39:27 pm »
This happened to me last year when I arrived in Korea and I still think it's pretty funny. The day I went to the immigration office to apply for my ARC, I finished up and was standing outside looking at my phone when a guy in a suit comes up to me and asks me to tutor his son. At this point I am right in front of the immigration office, literally 20m from the main door. I simply replied "That's illegal." and he offered to pay me. I said "No, it's illegal to work two jobs on my visa." He replies in perfect English "Well, you don't need to tell the government."

At that point, not only was it obvious this guy both understood and spoke English well (and therefore had no real need for an independent tutor) but also, considering our location, was probably trying to get me to say yes so he could walk himself a few short yards into the building and write me up. In the end I just walked away. I still don't know if he genuinely wanted a tutor for some reason but I suspect it was a trap, honestly.

Has this sort of thing happened to anyone else?


  • Renma
  • Super Waygook

    • 354

    • September 01, 2014, 06:09:42 am
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2022, 02:45:10 pm »
Sounds kinda farfetched tbh. Why would immigration want to entrap FOB foreigners and make more paperwork for themselves / deny future revenue. Still, better safe than sorry.


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2022, 02:54:23 pm »
I'd say it's far more likely it was a dude genuinely looking for a tutor rather than immigration sending out agents to find "the dreaded foreigner" teaching on the side for cash in hand *gasp*.


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2022, 03:14:56 pm »
Sounds kinda farfetched tbh. Why would immigration want to entrap FOB foreigners and make more paperwork for themselves / deny future revenue. Still, better safe than sorry.

I would agree but the fact it's only happened once and it was right outside the immigration office makes me doubt.


  • SPQR
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1374

    • March 08, 2018, 07:04:54 pm
    • Sierra Leone
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2022, 03:18:35 pm »
I have never experienced that. But I have been in bars in Itaewon
when piles of cops storm in, kick the Koreans out and then pee-test
all the mighty whities. This wouldn't happen today, but back in the day...

Also, to this day I have two names I use in Korea. One is a "teaching"
name I used when I taught privates. I used another guys name when
teaching illegally so if the mother, or guard, ratted me out it wouldn't
be with my name. I used the name of I guy I didn't like.


  • Augustiner
  • Expert Waygook

    • 543

    • December 06, 2021, 01:18:06 pm
    • Anyang
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2022, 03:30:43 pm »
He's no longer on this site, so I guess it's safe to reveal my secret.  I openly have my gf advertise my services on the local related Korean web forums as "Canadian English tutor and makgeoli aficionado, Kevin C.S. Grabb, Esq." 


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2022, 05:54:22 pm »
Sounds kinda farfetched tbh. Why would immigration want to entrap FOB foreigners and make more paperwork for themselves / deny future revenue. Still, better safe than sorry.

I can imagine an anti-English supporter doing something like this.

I remember reading about how some English Spectrum guys would stalk foreigners back in the day. They'd try to catch them doing illegal tutoring and such, so I really wouldn't put it past like-minded individuals to try and entrap foreigners, too. Especially if there's a reward for reporting.

Scammers in Korea will take advantage of pretty much anything involving cash rewards.


  • VanIslander
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Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2022, 07:59:47 pm »
Once IN THE IMMIGRATION bathroom i was asked to teach his son "Sundays". I stared at him in the mirror and said nothing, just shook my head and walked out. It was totally four alarm bells. Duh.

I have never tutored. I won't risk the work visa. But i have accepted lunches a couple of times with an eager parent, talking with the kid. But i refused calls to make it a weekly thing.

He's no longer on this site, so I guess it's safe to reveal my secret.  I openly have my gf advertise my services on the local related Korean web forums as "Canadian English tutor and makgeoli aficionado, Kevin C.S. Grabb, Esq." 
:laugh:
« Last Edit: September 20, 2022, 08:04:37 pm by VanIslander »
Life's to live! Live! Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Animals teach us to focus on family, friends and avoid danger. Get what you need and get along with others. That said, some rock the boat, but they know capsizin' it means they're sunk. Some sink, let's swim! The sea's big, great, but has undercurrents.


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2022, 09:19:49 pm »
Damn. Wonder if it would have made the morning paper
A proud member of The Hateful Eight


  • VanIslander
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Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2022, 09:26:31 pm »
Damn. Wonder if it would have made the morning paper
A newspaper would follow basic journalistic protocols: make it an editorial if it remains without individuals identified; have a second independent source otherwise (e.g., a witness, someone who had a similar experience with that person); minimally (indeed minimal standards in the last couple of decades: at least a single person in a position of authority, responsible for the truth of the matter, in a position to know - this used to get you a C+ back in journo school in the 90's, but is par for the course in many newsrooms these days).
« Last Edit: September 20, 2022, 09:33:16 pm by VanIslander »
Life's to live! Live! Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Animals teach us to focus on family, friends and avoid danger. Get what you need and get along with others. That said, some rock the boat, but they know capsizin' it means they're sunk. Some sink, let's swim! The sea's big, great, but has undercurrents.


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2022, 09:41:49 pm »
May I ask, would you have reported on this entrapment story?
A proud member of The Hateful Eight


  • VanIslander
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Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2022, 10:20:44 pm »
There is no evidence of entrapment.
I don't even know the identity of the man.
Arw you yanking my chain? This is near absurd.
Life's to live! Live! Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Animals teach us to focus on family, friends and avoid danger. Get what you need and get along with others. That said, some rock the boat, but they know capsizin' it means they're sunk. Some sink, let's swim! The sea's big, great, but has undercurrents.


Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2022, 11:01:52 pm »
Koreans generally don’t know or care about the regular law let alone immigration law regarding foreigners. However some do pay attention when they advertise rewards for turning people in.


  • VanIslander
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Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2022, 03:54:16 am »
Koreans generally don’t know or care about the regular law let alone immigration law regarding foreigners.
That seems right, given my 20 years here.

Of the 200+ nations of the world, the top police states would not include South Korea.

Herald their social control; they don't need the stick.

I remain always scares of taxis and intercity buses, more than of police officers (on any road, at any time).

That said,...

Back home a single call from a concerned citizen would ******* a taxi or bus driver. Back home we have the phone number on the side of the bus to complain about speed, aggressive moves or bad customer service. ...
« Last Edit: September 21, 2022, 04:01:52 am by VanIslander »
Life's to live! Live! Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Animals teach us to focus on family, friends and avoid danger. Get what you need and get along with others. That said, some rock the boat, but they know capsizin' it means they're sunk. Some sink, let's swim! The sea's big, great, but has undercurrents.


  • Spliced
  • Veteran

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    • August 05, 2022, 12:15:38 am
    • Jeolla
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2022, 03:57:58 am »
That seems right, given my 20 years here.

Of the 200+ nations of the world, the top police states would not include South Korea.

Herald their social control; they don't need the stick.

I remain always scares of taxis and intercity buses, more than of police officers (on any road, at any time).

That's a good point.


  • VanIslander
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • 3850

    • June 02, 2011, 10:12:19 am
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Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2022, 04:58:42 am »
Locals bailed on.
Life's to live! Live! Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. Animals teach us to focus on family, friends and avoid danger. Get what you need and get along with others. That said, some rock the boat, but they know capsizin' it means they're sunk. Some sink, let's swim! The sea's big, great, but has undercurrents.


  • SPQR
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1374

    • March 08, 2018, 07:04:54 pm
    • Sierra Leone
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2022, 06:54:25 am »


I have never tutored. I won't risk the work visa. But i have accepted lunches a couple of times with an eager parent, talking with the kid. But i refused calls to make it a weekly thing.
 :laugh:


I have always done privates. Also, everyone I knew did privates. The
only place I have ever encountered people who didn't do privates
was on anonymous online forums, like this one.


  • Renma
  • Super Waygook

    • 354

    • September 01, 2014, 06:09:42 am
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2022, 07:45:51 am »
A newspaper would follow basic journalistic protocols: make it an editorial if it remains without individuals identified; have a second independent source otherwise (e.g., a witness, someone who had a similar experience with that person); minimally (indeed minimal standards in the last couple of decades: at least a single person in a position of authority, responsible for the truth of the matter, in a position to know - this used to get you a C+ back in journo school in the 90's, but is par for the course in many newsrooms these days).


A lot of journalists today link tweets or reddit comments throughout the article. Sad state of affairs.


  • Spliced
  • Veteran

    • 181

    • August 05, 2022, 12:15:38 am
    • Jeolla
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2022, 08:20:03 am »
Does anyone recall, or was anyone here, when Deajeon had signs on various around and about, noting "We are watching you."?  ...in regards to ESLers teaching illegally and/or teaching privates on the side?


  • Lazio
  • Expert Waygook

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    • January 27, 2018, 03:56:10 pm
    • Gyeongi-do
Re: Nearly got baited into deportation?
« Reply #19 on: September 21, 2022, 08:40:14 am »
I remain always scares of taxis and intercity buses, more than of police officers (on any road, at any time).

I'm more concerned about those tailgating on 15 year old tires with their glove box full of traffic fines.