The JoongAng Ilbo reports that European immigration officials are being unusually strict with Koreans trying to enter their countries.
Last year, for example, Finnish immigration officials quizzed five Koreans studying in Russia for an hour before letting them across the border. The Finns tested the students’ basic knowledge of Korea. Meanwhile, a Korean studying in Britain was asked to translate some Korean sentences into English by Swiss airport officials when he tried to enter the country. Making matters worse, the Korean sentences were so grammatically incorrect they were non-sensical.
Koreans can travel visa-free in most European countries. Unfortunately, the nationals of certain third nations (read: China) know this, and are entering Europe illegally in increasing numbers using forged Korean passports. And Koreans are paying the price.
Koreans taking the ferry from France to Britain are now asked for hotel names and phone numbers in addition to the normal questions. There have been instances when entry has been denied after the Korean said he’d be staying with a friend. Some British airports, meanwhile, are testing the Korean comprehension skills of Korean passport holders.
This is especially the case with travelers arriving on low-cost airlines and ferries.
Korean diplomats in Europe say they are making continuous requests to local officials not to unfairly treat Korean travelers wishing to enter their countries.
24 Comments
Making matters worse, the Korean sentences were so grammatically incorrect they were non-sensical.
CALL THE VANK HOTLINE!
korean tourists and international student being treated like an illigal mexican migrant workers once again. our national anthem should be “respect.”
Rich - finally some karmic payback for all the pseudo-English crap produced using translation software.
Or, as Babelfish would have it, ‘It uses the translation software which is legitimate and all imitation British trash which creates hazard some karmic exchange non’.
부유한 - 마지막으로 모든 가짜 영국 쓰레기를 위해 약간karmic환불은 생성해 번역 소프트웨어를 사용한.
…which, of course, means…
It floated - all imitation British trash hazard some karmic exchange it swelled up last and to create the translation software it used.
…or, in other words…
그것은 - 모든 모조 영국 쓰레기 위험을 최후높은 쪽으로와 이용한 번역 소프트웨어를 창조하기 위하여 불은 어떤karmic교환 이초했다.
…which is to say…
It refloated in order to create the translation software which it uses - all imitation British trash danger with with the lastly high piece the what kind of karmic exchange which swells up.
The real story here, as usual, is what lies just beneath the surface - the huge number of Korean passports that go walk about every year, many sold by their enterprising owners, most from the pool of those stolen or created and marketed by Korean gangs. Besides the euphemistically labelled “overstay” problem, and the visa rejection rate, this has long been one of the major obstacles to Korea’s inclusion in the US visa waiver program highlighted by the Consul’s office in Seoul. Of course, it’s a problem that only Korea can effectively take any steps to ameliorate. Hence, it’s a problem Korea tries to redefine as one of foreigners’ discrimination against Korea. “Yes, we can’t police ourselves, so we are entitled to exceptional treatment; we’re so PRECIOUS.”
The old Korean passports, which were replaced last year or the year beforeby a much safer format that includes tamper proof security features, didn’t look very difficult to forge or modify. I have no doubt forged Korean passports will become increasingly rare once the older passports have expired.
All immigration officials have to do is ask travelers what they call the sea between Korea and Japan.
before i opened this thread, i wondered how the expat would find a way to blame koreans. sure enough, our resident sperwer of hate found a way.
tsk, tsk, tsk…
slim, if i’m such an ignant, why do you waste so much time on me? answer: you like me, slim. you might never admit such, but you do. i know it. btw, have you noticed when i don’t post for a few days someone always brings me up? you know why they do that, slim? they do it because they hate me, but love to hate me.
you’re old enough to see that, aren’t you?
lastly, may i ask? if you heard heather locklear were dating danny devito, what would you think? you comprende?
I’d wonder when she split up with Richie Sambora…
so much to my surprise! I find that she and Richie filed for divorce last February.
Actually, Heather Locklear was dating David Spade. Is there much difference between dating him and dating Danny DeVito?
I’m certain that the competence of Koreans in the global language will win out in the end, as it always does. They will express themselves in correct English, as they always do, and be allowed to progress on their merry ways.
dating danny devito would be classier?
I’m sure dating Danny DeVito, David Spade, or even Michael Richards would be classier than dating nulji.
gbnhj,
It floated - all imitation British trash hazard some karmic exchange it swelled up last and to create the translation software it used.
I think I get it. The above sentence is a reference to a British plumber and a something hazerdous floating in a commode? Wow.
There’s mild yet perverse entertainment value in watching pawi get beaten up all the time and remain defiantly unaware of who the joke is on.
This type of thing only happens to Koreans.
I made the blog with the web story and news..wawawa!
‘Actually, Heather Locklear was dating David Spade. Is there much difference between dating him and dating Danny DeVito?’
you’ve got to be kidding me! david spade? man! you know he’s thanking God.
‘There’s mild yet perverse entertainment value in watching pawi get beaten up all the time and remain defiantly unaware of who the joke is on.’
i’ll take your response as an affirmation of my post, slim. have a good day and i look forward to your next one line zinger.
Thanks, I guess, if that counts as affirmation. I think the answer to your question is more likely similar to the reasons why Letterman and Leno get endless mileage out of jokes about Paris Hilton. Yankabroad doesn’t post enough to stay on the radar the way you do — and he has medical excuses for the way he writes and thinks.
Korean immigration should start testing US expats on the American language also, which is Spanish.
Keep that Espanol info from Korean parents, or we’ll see a whole new hakwon industry spring up and surgeons offering tongue cuts to enable Korean kids to trill their Rs.
“‘Actually, Heather Locklear was dating David Spade. Is there much difference between dating him and dating Danny DeVito?’
you’ve got to be kidding me! david spade? man! you know he’s thanking God. ”
Pawi, I’m sure Richie Sambora is thanking god too. Not only did he have Heather Locklear, but now he’s with Denise Richards.
As a Korean would say, “Hey they’re foreigners so it’s ok because they’re foreigners”
“Korean immigration should start testing US expats on the American language also, which is Spanish.”
Funny. But, actually, it’s the Brits who were testing their language skills. Koreans should start testing Brits on their knowledge of Shakespeare.
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