Comments on: Infected, Detected, Deported

By: Maddlew

Maddlew — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:56:40 +0000

They had a condoms convention here or something like that and Korea is supposed to be a big condom exporter. Why in the frig is it then that getting one that is expansive enough to accomodate my pinky finger is so difficult? I don’t mind using a condom but all I can do with the ones here is make balloon insects.

By: MrMao

MrMao — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:54:45 +0000

You know, the article also mentions a place in Seoul (KHAP) that does free, anonymous testing close to Sungshin W.Univ.

By: MrMao

MrMao — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:42:09 +0000

What’s a GS-13?

Anyway, Metro, it ain’t BS. I’ve done it, got the negative over the phone. It’s quite possible that a positive would be handled differently, I don’t know. But seriously, you go to Wonhyo-ro Yongsan-gu Cheong, walk up to the 2nd floor, they take a blood sample, give you a number, you call back with the number, they tell you the result. For reals. The UNAIDS clinic is close to the Kyongnidan intersection, across from Haebangcheon above the IBK/Finebank. And yes, they will even drive you there.

By: day4night

day4night — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:56:53 +0000

Seems like if they want to keep out people with various diseases that it’s very much within their natural sovereign rights (i I said that right…).

By: Nappunsaram

Nappunsaram — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:26:22 +0000

Has anyone talked to any E-6 visa holders? They’ve had to get the HIV test since who knows when, so they would probably know better than the rest of us how the process works.

By: arthjm

arthjm — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:28:04 +0000

It’s probably because kimchi can’t cure AIDS/HIV that they’re so paranoid about it. Every nation should implement such a protocol and should test people on arrival…while I feel bad for those who got it from birth, many simply get it from not being careful. Got it from the locals? Well, different story, shouldn’t get deported then and so testing on arrival would make the distinction easier…but then, when dealing with an incurable disease, should be more careful.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH.....en.std.ap/
http://www.agapeprc.org/std.php

By: roboseyo

roboseyo — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:27:55 +0000

#9: Immune, eh? Well if the kimchi made Koreans immune to SARS, what’s doing it for HIV? Is it the boshintang? Dwenjang? Kimchi again?

And if it’s just genetic, here’s the real question:
would you rather be immune to HIV/Aids but vulnerable to fan death, or vice versa?

Tough trade-off, that. Do dual-citizen kyopos and half-Koreans get to choose?

Until we have answers to these difficult questions of life, I think I’ll keep a package of condoms handy.

By: seouldout

seouldout — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:48:10 +0000

A GS-13 was recently deported in 24 hours after he tested HIV+.

Speaking of public health I recently visited my Gu’s medical office to get some vaccinations not available at the hospital, for instance cholera. They wouldn’t give me the vaccination - I was happily prepared to pay - because I didn’t have a resident ID, and the computer system couldn’t process the form without that ID #.

With all the illegal workers here, including those from the third world, you’d think the gov’t would recognize this systemic flaw could affect the greater good.

By: NewYorkTom

NewYorkTom — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:26:52 +0000

Remember, all foreigners have HIV/AIDS and Koreans are immune to the virus.

Seriously though…I dont think it’s actually a good idea to have people know that they would be immediately kicked out of the country once he/she is found to have the virus. It would serve as a deterrent for people to get checked out. There’s gotta be a better way to get everyone checked out, including the immune Koreans.

By: hitest

hitest — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:49:30 +0000

Wow they sure did the HIV test rather quickly, or did they chain him once he returned for the results? I though it took a bid of time to do the testing. I just had my employment physical(for the first time in three years teaching here in Korea)and it took several days for the blood work results, which by Canadian standards is rather quick might I add.