Comments on: The embassy visit (and Korean government folk) http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:25:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: The Marmot’s Hole » Don’t expect Korea to be getting a visa waiver any time soon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-60153 The Marmot’s Hole » Don’t expect Korea to be getting a visa waiver any time soon Tue, 26 Dec 2006 08:16:24 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-60153 [...] While I would personally love for Korea to get a waiver interviews for tourist visas (to avoid the hassle of going to the embassy), I don’t think it will happen anytime soon. [...] [...] While I would personally love for Korea to get a waiver interviews for tourist visas (to avoid the hassle of going to the embassy), I don’t think it will happen anytime soon. [...]

]]> By: railwaycharm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-60001 railwaycharm Mon, 25 Dec 2006 17:34:18 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-60001 In defense of Dogbert, an 85K exemption does not cover the housing allowance for us non English teaching ex-pats. While I do see a value in our civil servants at the Embassy I also recognize that with all tit suckling government agencies, we tax payers are paying a premium for these services. I have witnessed over the years the “complexity” of the services rendered from the American Services department and I am here to say that anyone with reasonable English skills and the ability to operate a computer could probably handle the task. I have also worked with the commercial sector of the embassy. They are bright and helpful people but they again are high priced consultants. I think Uncle Sam needs to look to localizing a lot of the services. I would venture to guess that qualified people could be assigned to the job without the high overhead that is currently built into the gig. I know the Canadians have locally hired Canadians on their payroll, it is possible! In defense of Dogbert, an 85K exemption does not cover the housing allowance for us non English teaching ex-pats. While I do see a value in our civil servants at the Embassy I also recognize that with all tit suckling government agencies, we tax payers are paying a premium for these services. I have witnessed over the years the “complexity” of the services rendered from the American Services department and I am here to say that anyone with reasonable English skills and the ability to operate a computer could probably handle the task. I have also worked with the commercial sector of the embassy. They are bright and helpful people but they again are high priced consultants. I think Uncle Sam needs to look to localizing a lot of the services. I would venture to guess that qualified people could be assigned to the job without the high overhead that is currently built into the gig. I know the Canadians have locally hired Canadians on their payroll, it is possible!

]]> By: AFCHIEF http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59970 AFCHIEF Mon, 25 Dec 2006 16:42:25 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59970 "I have noted from others that have had children born in Korea that they must actually take the baby, within 30 days of birth, down to the embassy to show the person at the window a live baby for them to issue a passport. I’ve wondered if there was not a better way to do such since many do not want to bring the baby out into the weather, just after birth." This is true. However, for children born to USFK personnel outside of the Seoul area a waiver is available so these children do not have to be taken to the embassy in Seoul. Taking a month old child out in below freezing weather and putting up with demonstrators was not a good experience. “I have noted from others that have had children born in Korea that they must actually take the baby, within 30 days of birth, down to the embassy to show the person at the window a live baby for them to issue a passport. I’ve wondered if there was not a better way to do such since many do not want to bring the baby out into the weather, just after birth.”

This is true. However, for children born to USFK personnel outside of the Seoul area a waiver is available so these children do not have to be taken to the embassy in Seoul. Taking a month old child out in below freezing weather and putting up with demonstrators was not a good experience.

]]> By: ROK Drop Links of the Week 18-24DEC06 at ROK Drop http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59755 ROK Drop Links of the Week 18-24DEC06 at ROK Drop Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:33:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59755 [...] Forget the six party nuclear talks, the big news of the week had to be that Hooters is coming to Korea.  Maybe the US can offer Kim Jong-il a Hooters franchise as part of a denuclearizing deal?  An appreciation for big breasts is something that everyone should be able to agree upon.  Call it Hooters Diplomacy.  However, check this out if you just have to read something about the six party talks.  It appears China may be getting itself involved in more than just North Korea negotiations as Israel has called on China to become involved in the Middle East peace process.  Well if you think the six party talks are frustrating, according to some the US Embassy in Seoul is just as frustrating. [...] [...] Forget the six party nuclear talks, the big news of the week had to be that Hooters is coming to Korea.  Maybe the US can offer Kim Jong-il a Hooters franchise as part of a denuclearizing deal?  An appreciation for big breasts is something that everyone should be able to agree upon.  Call it Hooters Diplomacy.  However, check this out if you just have to read something about the six party talks.  It appears China may be getting itself involved in more than just North Korea negotiations as Israel has called on China to become involved in the Middle East peace process.  Well if you think the six party talks are frustrating, according to some the US Embassy in Seoul is just as frustrating. [...]

]]> By: Prince Roy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59708 Prince Roy Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:18:23 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59708 Andy, I'm happy to hear it went smoothly for you. Andy,

I’m happy to hear it went smoothly for you.

]]> By: usinkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59689 usinkorea Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:42:56 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59689 <blockquote>a Korean-bashing session </blockquote> After having gotten another one of those emails related to the www.usinkorea.org site blasting me for bashing Korea (email from a non-Korean) and telling me that in 4 years this expat had never witnessed any anti-US attitudes --- ---do we really have to go here? I thought we were bashing civil service workers.... and I thought/know Koreans do the same thing. Is this like black people in the US being able to use the N-word and not others? (I'm not picking on what Andy wrote. It and the email just scratched the scab of "Korea bashing" again...)

a Korean-bashing session

After having gotten another one of those emails related to the http://www.usinkorea.org site blasting me for bashing Korea (email from a non-Korean) and telling me that in 4 years this expat had never witnessed any anti-US attitudes —

—do we really have to go here?

I thought we were bashing civil service workers….

and I thought/know Koreans do the same thing.

Is this like black people in the US being able to use the N-word and not others?

(I’m not picking on what Andy wrote. It and the email just scratched the scab of “Korea bashing” again…)

]]> By: Herod http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59673 Herod Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:09:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59673 All these Busan 9-inspired disclaimers will get you bloggers nowhere. All these Busan 9-inspired disclaimers will get you bloggers nowhere.

]]> By: Andy Jackson http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59670 Andy Jackson Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:37:54 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59670 Woah. I certainly wasn't planning on starting a Korean-bashing session when I made this post. Woah. I certainly wasn’t planning on starting a Korean-bashing session when I made this post.

]]> By: Herod http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59667 Herod Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:28:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59667 The life goal of many Koreans is getting into a position that allows them to lord it rudely over others. I always like it when Koreans tell how their experience at the US Embassy made them anti-American. The arrogance, the rudeness, etc. Then you ask who they dealt with, and they say "a Korean." The life goal of many Koreans is getting into a position that allows them to lord it rudely over others.
I always like it when Koreans tell how their experience at the US Embassy made them anti-American. The arrogance, the rudeness, etc. Then you ask who they dealt with, and they say “a Korean.”

]]> By: dda http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59663 dda Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:09:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/12/20/the-embassy-visit-and-korean-government-folk/#comment-59663 <blockquote>Try getting something done there if you are a Korean national, though, and you’ll be lucky to be treated as a supplicant at the court of Jaba the Hut. Bear in mind that the dispensers of this treatment are almost always Koreans putting on airs.</blockquote> True with many other embassies in SK. The Koreans working at the French Embassy, Consular Services, Visa section, are the worst – but the ones hidden in offices behind the walls not much better. I also have a Korean friend who was turned away from the Canadian embassy by fellow Koreans when she went and enquired about acquiring the citizenship – she was born and had lived some years in Canada. Basically she was told "whadda fuck you need the Canadian citizenship for? You ashamed of being Korean or something?" Then again, those of us who've been to Korea's Consulate in Tokyo to pick up their visa may have some pretty good memories of how unfriendly some of the – locally hired but Korean – clerks there could be. There was one ajumma I saw there for a few years who really took the cake. But then again, when you show up with a paper that says "Give the visa. Now." there' not much they can do...

Try getting something done there if you are a Korean national, though, and you’ll be lucky to be treated as a supplicant at the court of Jaba the Hut. Bear in mind that the dispensers of this treatment are almost always Koreans putting on airs.

True with many other embassies in SK. The Koreans working at the French Embassy, Consular Services, Visa section, are the worst – but the ones hidden in offices behind the walls not much better. I also have a Korean friend who was turned away from the Canadian embassy by fellow Koreans when she went and enquired about acquiring the citizenship – she was born and had lived some years in Canada. Basically she was told “whadda fuck you need the Canadian citizenship for? You ashamed of being Korean or something?”

Then again, those of us who’ve been to Korea’s Consulate in Tokyo to pick up their visa may have some pretty good memories of how unfriendly some of the – locally hired but Korean – clerks there could be. There was one ajumma I saw there for a few years who really took the cake. But then again, when you show up with a paper that says “Give the visa. Now.” there’ not much they can do…

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