Part of a series on ESL in Korea
Chapter One- The Job
Chapter Two- Before Coming to Korea
Overview Are you employable? Compensation and benefits How much can I save? Private lessons When do schools hire? Job hunt advice How to check out the school before deciding Schedules Employment process Contracts Salary Accommodation Airfare Proof of onward travel Vacation and National Holidays Severance bonus Medical Insurance Taxation Know your expatriate taxation Tax issues for Canadian expats Pension National Pension Offices Visa Sponsorship Alien Registration Card Immigration Visas Visa application form Multiple entry visa Visa expiration Permission to work a 2nd job Letter of Release Visa run Fukuoka visa run Osaka visa run Surviving and succeeding as a teacher in Korea Teacher training KOTESOL Teaching resources Classroom games Legal matters English-speaking lawyers throughout Korea Labor Board Labor Standards Act

The closest and most popular destination for renewing and changing your Korean visas is Fukuoka in southern Japan.

Fukuoka doesn't have a Korean Embassy, but they do have a Korean consulate that processes visas. Getting to Fukuoka, staying in Fukuoka, and taking care of your visa affairs can be an ordeal in itself, so we'll try to be explicit.

[edit] Getting to Fukuoka

If you are doing a visa run to secure an E2 teaching visa, then your employer should be paying for it (if they’re not, then you should be asking yourself why you are signing that contract). Employers will usually put you on a plane to Fukuoka Airport, which can run between 250-410,000 won round trip, depending on the time of year, and the agent. Expect the trip to take at least 2 full business days, as the consulate seems to be taking longer to process visas these days. Make sure that you have your employer call the Fukuoka Consulate in advance to ensure that they will be open during the time that you'll be there and how long they expect the visa turnaround time will be.

If your employer has not yet decided on a travel agent as of yet, suggest GOnSEE,WhyPayMore or Kangsan Travel. GOnSEE has a visa run special packages. Kangsan Travel specializes in visa run packages for Korean expats and you can get good deals for travel and accommodation through them.

If you are paying for your own visa run for whatever reason, then you’d be best to do it as economically as possible, as doing anything short of breathing in Japan, can be ridiculously expensive. So, you might want to look at getting to Fukuoka by sea, rather than by air. You have two options for sea travel. The cheapest way over is by taking the overnight ferry. It takes about 14 hours. It costs about 120,000won, round-trip. The more quicker way for sea travel, would be taking the JRBeetle jetfoil, which takes 3 hours to cross over and run between 155-170,000won, round trip. Through Kangsan Travel, you can get the jetfoil trip, plus two nights hotel for around 240,000won, depending on the time of year. (Or a single night, if you want that, for around 210,000won.) It helps to buy your ticket well in advance - sometimes the available rooms sell out early. A gigantic buffet breakfast (with both Western and Japanese food) may well be included, depending on the hotel.

Here are the details of high-speed hydrofoil service between Busan and Hakada, Fukuoka;

Busan ->Fukuoka Daily(4times) 8:30a.m; 12:00 2:00p.m; 3:30p.m.

Fukuoka ->Busan Daily(4times) 8:30a.m; 10:15a.m; 12:00 3:30p.m.

Time required: 3hours Tickets: 85,000 Won(One way) / 170,000 Won (Round trip) Inquiries: Korea Marine Express Tel:+82-2-730-8666(Seoul) +82-51-465-6111(Busan)

[edit] In the city

A bus station in downtown Tenjin. Note the Korean written on the sign along with Japanese and English.

Rainbow Plaza, the international centre in Fukuoka.

Fukuoka is made of of two old cities: Fukuoka and Hakata. There is a train station in each one and they are for different train lines. The trains to Kita-Kyushu and Honshu depart from Hakata. Hakata-eki has next to it the intercity bus terminal. Go out of the station and take a right thru the plaza to get there. City buses (catch them in the street in front of the station) connect the two train stations. Buses in the downtown area around Tenjin only cost 100 yen within the zone. A large 100-yen sign can be seen on the side of buses in this area. Don't forget that buses in Japan are boarded from the rear. Take the ticket while boarding the bus, and then pay the fare while getting off at the front.

In an upper storey of the bus station is a 100-yen store - a way to avoid Japanese high prices. They have a lot of food items there all priced at 100 yen. You can also buy maps of most of Japan's prefectures there, and there's tons of souvenirs and knicknacks. This store is more varied than most of the Korean cheon stores.

The public market is on the south side of Fukuoka and is nowhere near as big as you'd find in a city that size in Korea. But there are a lot of interesting things there for the market buff.

Fukuoka is renowned for its night life and many establishments are in the area near the river that runs between the two train stations. Bring money - a lot of it!

Rainbow Plaza, located in Tenjin on the 8th floor of the IMZ Building across the street from the front of Tenjin Station, is an international centre with internet access, information on hotels, events, a bulletin board for those looking for private lessons/roommates/friends etc. and other services. Staff at Rainbow Plaza speak a variety of languages - some have been hired for their English ability, others for Chinese, Korean, French or other languages.

[edit] Korean Consulate in Fukuoka

Fukuoka 1-1-3 Chuo-Ku Fukuokas Jigyohama Post code 810-0065 Phone number : 81 92 771-0461/3 email : fukuoka@mofat.go.kr Office Hours : 9:00-12:00 1: 30-17:00 (Monday to Friday) No Saturdays. The consulate is closed during both Korean and Japanese holidays.

• • • • Please Note: The Visa office closes at 15:30.************

[edit] Getting to the Korean Consulate

Portion of the subway in Fukuoka applicable to a person on a visa run. The stations Tojin Machi, Fukuoka Airport, and Tenjin are the most likely to be used.

Subway times from Fukuoka Airport Station.

Fukuoka Airport Station. Exit one leads to the free bus that goes in between the international and domestic terminal.

For someone who may have never set foot in Japan, let alone Fukuoka, we wish we could tell you that getting to the consulate is cut and dried. It’s not. But this advice will help.

[edit] From the Airport

• Take the free shuttle bus to the domestic terminal.
• Get on the subway.
• Take it to Tojin Machi station (唐人町駅, lit. Chinatown Station - 9th stop from the airport).
• In the station, leave via the first exit (1).
• Walk towards the traffic light after walking straight out of the exit.
• At the light, turn right and go straight for about 10 minutes. You'll have to cross over to the other side of the street. The consulate has a Korean style roof and a Korean Flag. The area is really close to the Fukuoka Dome.

Subway times

Map of the environs around Toujinmachi Station (Japanese; station is slightly below and right of centre, Fukuoka Dome can be seen on the top slightly to the left where the river widens and is in light blue)

[edit] From the Ferry

• Take a bus to Tenjin (Bus # 80 or #84).
• At Tenjin, change buses, and take a bus to the Fukuoka dome.

[edit] Getting Your Visa

You will need your passport, your visa code, passport, two photos and the signed application form that you can get at the consulate. You will also have to pay some money. Currently, the visa costs around 6,000 yen. Make sure that you have your passport photos taken in a random subway booth or professional photo shop in Korea, as the photo booth at the consulate is expensive. If you have long hair, note that you can't have your ears covered in an official photo.

The oft-quoted deadline for submitting your documents is 11am, which ensures that you can pick up the visa after 1:30pm, the following day. However, people have been known to show up later and still have it ready by the following day, but it's best not to push it.

[edit] Public holidays

The following are Korean and Japanese national holidays.

[edit] Korean Holidays

Jan 01 -- New Year's Day

Jan 02 -- Second Day of New Year

Feb -- Seollal, Korean new year. Check the dates that this will fall on

Mar 01 -- Independence Movement Day

Apr 05 -- Tree Planting Day

May 05 -- Children's Day

May 15 -- Buddha's Birthday

Jun 06 -- Memorial Day

July 17 -- Constitution Day

Aug 15 -- Liberation Day

Approx. Sep 15 (based on the lunar calendar) -- Chuseok / Thanksgiving.

Oct 03 -- National Foundation Day

Dec 25 -- Christmas

[edit] Japanese Holidays

January 1-3 -- New Year (shogatsu)

Second monday of January -- Coming of Age (seiji no hi)

February 11 -- National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi)

March 21 -- Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi)

April 29 -- Green Day (midori no hi)

May 3 -- Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi)

May 4 -- "Between Day" (kokumin no kyujitsu)

May 5 -- Children's Day (kodomo no hi)

Third monday of July -- Ocean Day (umi no hi)

Third monday of September -- Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi)

September 23 -- Autumn Equinox Day (shubun no hi)

Second monday of October -- Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi)

November 3 -- Culture Day (bunka no hi)

November 23 -- Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi)

December 23 -- Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi)

If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be free as well.

[edit] Accommodation

We'll start on the cheapest end of things.

[edit] Saunas

For those of you that are into using 24hour saunas w/sleeping quarters, for ultra-inexpensive travel within Korea (usually around 7000Won/night, give or take), you'll happy to know that Japan's onsens(saunas) have a similar set-up. A lot of the onsens have sleeping quarters there; one of the ones known to run for 24hrs in Fukuoka is:

• Manyo No Yu

092-452-4126

Yutaka 2-3-66, Hakata-ku

Exit city expressway Domestic Airport ramp, turn right

The rate depends on when you arrive and leave. Until 3.00 am you are charged 1890 Yen (15,300 Won) and there is an extra charge of 1570 Yen (12,700 Won) for staying after 3.00 am, making a total of 3460 Yen (28,000 Won). If you show up after 3.00 am, they only charge 1570 Yen for the night.

Unlike the Korean version, pretty much everything you could need is supplied in the cost of entry. A few of the many items supplied in the womens area are: kimono, toothbrush, razor, towel (one for bathing, another for drying), scrubbing cloths, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, facewash, moisturiser and some hair products.

Free shuttle bus to Manyo No Yo.

There is a free shuttle bus to the sauna that picks up from outside the Hakata station at hourly intervals from 7.45 am until 12.45 pm. If you can find Starbucks just outside the station, the pickup is just past that on the corner next to Lawsons convenience store.

The only downside is that it is not a 24 hour establishment. The sleeping quarters close at 8.00 am and everything closes at 9.00 am, so if you do arrive after 3.00 am you will not be getting a lot of sleep. It does however make for a good wake-up call to get to the consulate before 10.00 am. A shuttle bus back to the Hakata station leaves at 9.00 am.

[edit] Hostels

Next cheapest is probably the Dazaifu Hostel which is 2800 Yen (29,000 Won), but they can only hold 24.

1-18-1 Sanjo

Dazaifu City, Fukuoka-ken

818-0111

• Dazaifu's number is +81-(0)92-922-8740, if you want to call ahead. They should be able to speak enough english to give directions or whatnot, as it's a traveller's hostel.

[edit] Capsule hotels

These are next in line as far as expenses go.

• Sauna Capsule Wellbe Fukuoka is near the Gion subway station.

• Capsule Inn Hakata

4-56 Gion-machi

Hakata-ku

Fukuoka City

812-0038

Gion-machi

+81 (0)92 281 2244

Large, sleeping coffins with mini-TVs start at 3160 Yen (32,000Won). It has a spa/sauna.

• Japanese Ryokan Kashima Honkan is a traditional Japanese ryokan that serves western and Japanese breakfasts for a fee. It is near the Gion subway station.

• Toyoko Inn is a reliable hotel chain with prices ranging between 5000-5500 yen.

If you are an expat doing tourist visa runs (or if your E2 sponsor is being cheap on the visa run allowance) on your own dollar, but plan to stay overnight, then the above info is more relevant to you, than an E2 teacher who is being properly covered by the school. If your school has given you, preferably, 350 000 won+ to work with, then look up a cheap 5000 Yen hotel at Fukuoka Now.

No matter where you end up, make sure you carry the phone numbers with you and utilize the english-speaking Japanese staff at the info kiosks at the ferry terminal, and get them to hit the phones for you, assuming that you're not booking online in advance.

Note that there is a Japanese law requiring hotels to copy the passports of foreigners staying there. This is supposedly to keep track of terrorists. Considering that the Korean consulate keeps your passport while processing your visa, this could be trouble. A few copies of one's passport before setting out on the visa run may be enough. Also, the law doesn't seem strictly enforced.

[edit] Business hotels

SB Hotel in Tenjin is probably the least expensive business hotel in Tenjin.

These provide the same service that a regular hotel does, but with a room about half the size, equalling a room about 6 pyeong in Korean terms. These hotels generally range from just under 5000 yen to 7000 or a bit over.

• SB Hotel - a single room is 4,725 yen. The hotel is located to the north of Tenjin, about 10 minutes walk from the station. At least one of the staff members at the hotel is Korean as well (as of September 2006). The price includes free high-speed LAN internet, a simple meal the next morning, and regular amenities such as an alarm clock in the room, tv, air condition and so on. Soap and shampoo is provided. Laundry is done in a coin laundry area in the rear of the building for 200 yen, and 100 yen for each 30 minutes to use the dryer.
  

The location map as seen here is in Japanese, but it is not too hard to find - leave Tenjin station, head north, and continue until reaching the KBC building. It will be on the opposite side of the same block.

• 092-717-6600

[edit] Finances

Although there are currency exchange desks at the ferry terminal and airport in Fukuoka, it's tough to exchange Won anywhere else in the city. The desks are also slow in exchange money and require more paperwork compared to the exchange desks in the Korean airports. Even international ATMs are known to reject bank cards. The ATMs for the post office will accept PLUS Visa cards however. It's advisable to budget and exchange enough funds prior to your trip to Japan.

[edit] Japanese in Fukuoka

Those who know some Japanese from other parts of the country should remember that the people in Fukuoka generally speak a dialect when talking with each other and though have no problems understanding standard Japanese may answer in so-called Hakataben (though this is not very likely when speaking with a foreigner). Differences include using か in place of い for adjectives:

あつい（暑い）－あつか

いい（良い）－よか (from よい＋か)

There is often a と used on the end of sentences in place of the の or か in standard Japanese:

これ飲んでいいの？－これ飲んでよかと？

あれ知ってる？－あれしっとっと？

There is quite a lot to the dialect and people generally do use standard Japanese with foreigners but for those on a visa run with some Japanese ability it may help to remember that the standard response to asking for permission to do something may not be いいよ but rather よかよか.

[edit] Visa reciprocity and visa exemption treaties

Please note that if you only renewing a tourist visa and you are a citizen of a country that has a visa exemption or reciprocity policy with Korea, then you don’t need to go to the consulate. You can just get off the boat or plane and get on the very next one and come back across.

It’s important to note that Canadian citizens are granted 6 months tourist visas upon entering Korea, which is in reciprocity accordance to what Koreans get when they enter Canada. However, it’s important to note that Americans are only granted 30 day visas upon entering Korea, but if they go to a Korean Embassy or Consulate beforehand, they can obtain a 3 month tourist visa. If you are an American make sure that you clearly understand this, regardless of what your school or recruiter may tell you, as there are countless stories of people getting confused between the US and Canadian tourist visa lengths, and having to pay visa overstay fines. If you are an American and your employer wants to fly you over on a tourist visa and do a visa run after arriving, make sure the employer is aware of your 30 day visa status, just in case there are snags that delay your visa run trip. The employment market here operates fast and sometimes you might have less than a week's notice before you need to hop on a plane, but if you have a pretty good idea of when you might be heading to Korea, try to get your passport to the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate beforehand, so you can have your 90 days tourist visa, in advance.

[edit] Countries under Visa Exemption Agreements

[edit] Europe

[edit] 90 days

• Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

[edit] 60 days

Italy

[edit] Asia and Oceania (all countries listed are for 90 days)

Bangladesh, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey

[edit] Americas (all countries listed are for 90 days)

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rice, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

[edit] Africa

• Lesotho / 60
• Liberia / 90
• Morocco / 90
• Tunisia / 30

[edit] Countries or Regions under principles of reciprocity and national interest

[edit] Asia

Country/Period(days)

• Brunei / 30
• Hong Kong / 90
• Japan / 30
• Kuwait / 30
• Macao / 30
• Oman / 30
• Qatar / 30
• Saudi Arabia / 30
• Taiwan / 30
• United Arab emirates / 30
• Yemen / 30

[edit] North America

• Canada / 180
• United States / 30

[edit] South America

• Argentina / 30
• Chile / 30
• Guatemala / 30
• Honduras / 30
• Paraguay / 30
• Uruguay / 30
• Venezuela / 30

[edit] Europe

• Albania / 30
• Croatia / 30
• Cyprus / 30
• Latvia / 30
• Lithuania / 30
• Monaco / 30
• Slovenia / 90
• Vatican / 30

[edit] Oceania

• Australia / 90
• Fiji / 30
• Guam / 30
• Kiribati / 30
• Marshall Islands/ 30
• Naura / 90
• New Caledonia / 30
• Palau / 30

[edit] Africa

• Republic of South Africa / 30
• Swaziland / 30

[edit] External Links

• Fukuoka on Wikipedia
• Fukuoka Now
• Kyushu
• Sbhotel
• Toyoko Inn
• Happy Cock
• Sam & Dave

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