South Korea needs to wake up..

 For years there has been regular debate on how to cope with the fact that South Korea's population will decline. There are many reasons why people are deciding to forgo raising kids. That is a topic for another day though. Now the issue is with how South Korea plans to "fill in gaps" in the work force. 

South Korea has promoted a number of "professional" visas aimed at bringing in highly skilled people who they hope can fill the shortfall of native job seekers due to a shrinking population. HUH? There are thousands of people like me, who would actually consider South Korea a long term option if they changed some rules regarding our visas. Under the new system they are allowing these highly skilled persons to have a type of "open" visa. Basically, they are not tied to their workplace. They can change employment, and likely work in other fields if they so choose. 

Now here is the kicker, there are very few foreigners who are attracted to Korea to take advantage of these visas. Korea needs to wake up and realize that long term residents is where their focus needs to be. Once we leave South Korea we will be coming back. I have been blessed to work at two wonderful schools here in Iksan which has allowed us to become more and more financially stable. 

This would allow me to invest more and more in Korea. However, my visa is locked to my workplace. Yogi's and the boys are locked to my visa which makes doing something has simple as buying a car, setting up a internet connection, or smartphone a hassle. The reason? Our visa's are only 1 year long. We make more money than the small group of "highly skilled" persons South Korea seems to prefer. Most of us in this group make between 50 - 70 million won a year. If you look at our CTC it is nearly 60 - 80 million won. Many of us simply save money, send it to bank accounts overseas. Why? Why should I invest in a country that looks at me like I am a visitor? 

If I have a 3 year fund, but I have to leave because of a one year visa .... that is a nightmare! Not to mention when you go to banks to seek ways in which we could invest we are met with the "you are not Korean". Stupid stupid stupid. This group of people are in fact highly skilled. I mean the thousands of foreigners who have made Korea a second home. They should roll out the red carpet for us. Give us proper access to the financial system. South Korea will end up reacting too late when this large group of people start leaving the country.

/tata