To CM…I think korea is glad that you are gone. you obviously went there with a certain expectation and when those expectations were not met, you automatically blaimed korea and its people. don’t argue with me on this…this is exactly the way I see it. it’s attitudes like yours that koreans hate…you know the attitude..”i’m white, i am more civilized, i know more than you” bull shit. and once you show that attitude, then you are dead to them. so in turn you turn on them. why can’t you see that you are a moron?

One thing that I do have a problem with, is that this article is not 100 percent acurate. When we tried to set the record straight with the Korean news agency by submitting a retractment letter, the editor refused to post it in their newspaper. Here is the letter that was ment to be sent. Hope this clarifies things for those who are interested.

Sincerely,
David Joseph Anselmo

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA OCTOBER 05, 2006:
First and foremost, I would like to clarify the situation reported today in regards to the immigration issue for the movie, The Host, and my involvement in it.
Most importantly, the comments made by Clinton Morgan do not reflect my opinions in any way. I am embarrassed and disgusted to be associated with those types of comments, and would like to make it clear that in no way am I in agreement with Mr. Morgan.
On the contrary, I have had a wonderful experience living in South Korea, and I am very appreciative of all of the opportunities it has given me. I have met many kind people and have been able to experience things here that I would not be able to anywhere else in the world. I truly have a sincere appreciation and respect for Korea, its culture, and Korean people.
When filming the movie The Host, I was on a 90-day Entertainment Work Visa. Although the production company and I were under the impression that my work on the movie was covered under this visa, we recently discovered that it was not. It was never my intention to to break the law while shooting this film.
In order to compensate for my mistake, a fine has already been paid to the Korean Immigration department. I am a firm believer of doing things legally, and I have the utmost respect for the law. I understand that wherever you travel in the world, there are different laws, and I endeavor to follow the laws of any country who accepts me as a visitor.

The South Korean movie industry has seen amazing growth and is being recognized all around the world. The filmmakers of Korea have done an amazing job of creating films that people all over the world want to see. I am very happy to play a role in this industry, and am very proud of what Korea has accomplished. I look forward to contributing all of my energy to Korean films and my work in the future.

For example although I’m currently on a F2-1 I’ve still had to provide letters etc. from my employers, albeit not as sponsors, and still have to show that my wife has a certain amount in the bank to support me…. if you, or anyone else, can tell me where I can get these rules written down by an official body.

When I got my F-2-1, it was a similar story. The first was good. He looked my packet over, told me what I didn’t have and how to get it (go to that fax machine, have your wife fax you her employment certificate, go across the street and get this other thing), then upon my request looked over what paper work and had and told me how to fix it. No problem. I get this taken care of…

now I go to the second guy, he imediately starts bitching to the person next to him about how my mairrage certificate is half in English, being jointly issued by the embassy and Jongo-gu office. Then pointed to a signature/date problem (ok that was my my bad),

Next day, everything has been corrected to the stringent specifications of the first two guys and now I get -
imigration: “yeah, this is all right but, do you have anything else?”
me :”like…?”
Imm: “like something that shows you can support her”
me: “well, shes the one with the job”
Imm: “yes but shes only had it for one month”
me: thinking -This matters how?! This is a rule?!!
Imm: do you have a job?
me: (on a student visa at the time) ahem…. …. No. I had this stuff verified by the two guys sitting next to you, and checked it across your korean website, they never said I needed anything else.”
Imm: well there is no actually rule that you need anything in particular, but we want to see something that shows us you have some sort of to asset to help you live here, whose house do you live in?”
me: “mine”
Imm: “Yours?! You mean, you pay rent?! You? uh ok, that works, when you go home fax me the contract for you apartment”
me: …huh?

so, there you have it, no rules really, some people at the counter just “want to see somehting else” thats all there is to it.

Thanks for the info, but where can you get this in writing. I’ve been told similar things by immigration, but they’re never able to show me where it’s written down for me to check, nor can I find it on any governmental site. I know some laws have been translated into English and are at the MOLEG (Ministry of Legislation) site, but (and maybe I’m doing something wrong here) I can’t seem find the rules related to working on visas. Since I’ve often been given different answers by different officials to various question, and different info on the varied governmental website I’d really like to see the law written down, rather than relying on the word of immigration official. This is particularly so since I normally ring at least twice and ask questions before I go, frequently get different answers, and have on occasions had to suggest, very carefully of course, that they confer with their colleagues on certain points.

For example although I’m currently on a F2-1 I’ve still had to provide letters etc. from my employers, albeit not as sponsors, and still have to show that my wife has a certain amount in the bank to support me, despite the fact i’m the one with the job……

I would really appreciate it if you, or anyone else, can tell me where I can get these rules written down by an official body.

After all, if you’re highly educated and marketable, why would you choose to live in lowly Korea, when you can live in areas with less social and economic problems like Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, or Malaysia?

COUGH, COUGH. Among the countries you listed, only one is more economically developed and offers a higher standard of living: Japan. I lived in the more developed east coast of China for four years, and let me tell you, China has far more serious social and economic problems than Korea. China is a fascinating country, but Korea is a much easier place to live, IMHO. I have visited all of the other countries mentioned, except Vietnam. Thailand and the Philippines have grinding poverty in the countryside and in the cities, and both are battling violent Muslim insurgencies. Malaysia is a really pleasant country with an appealing diverse culture. Its social problems are less visible because the government strictly censors the media.