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Can I Return to Korea After a Midnight Run?

By on August 1, 2011 in Tips

When I was considering a midnight run from my hagwon in Korea I searched for “can I Return to Korea After a Midnight Run?” Some of the incoming  search terms on this site show that people are still searching for that answer all the time. Nothing I ever found gave me full confidence that they would let me back in, but I decided from what I could find that they probably would let me back in, but I was never 100% positive.

Well now I finally know for sure the answer to the often asked question “can I Return to Korea After a Midnight Run?”. If you go on a midnight run from Korea the answer is yes you can return to Korea again with a new E2 visa. I received a new E2 visa to return just three months after my midnight run.

So if you are considering running from a bad job in Korea you can apply for a new job and a whole new visa without being worried that you are screwing yourself out of working in Korea in the future. Just make sure when you cross immigration at the airport you turn in your ARC card and ask them to cancel your visa. If you don’t cancel your visa you won’t be able to return until it has expired. You should also start getting your paperwork ready while you are in Korea or your turn around time for coming back could end up being longer…

 

 

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  • Vossboss86

    Good for you, man. I’m glad you got away from a shitty job and were able to get a new one. I’m about to pull a runner myself. I have all my documents sorted and a new job with a Provincial Education office lined up. I’m planning on coming back to Korea on a tourist visa and then have the visa switched to an E-2 in country. Do you forsee any problems with this process? Immigration (1345) are the people who advised me to do this in the beginning, but you never know. The last thing I want to do is mess up a future job opportunity…

    • http://acouplevagabonds.com Joe

      I think you should be just fine.

      Good Luck!

  • smiley_me86

    I did a midnight run two years ago but I didn’t hand in the alien card at the airport or cancel visa. Me and my fiance would like to go back to Korea on our honeymoon. Do you think I would get through immigration ok?

    • http://acouplevagabonds.com Joe

      I think they would let you in no problem. Even though you didn’t cancel your visa it would have expired normally at the end of the year anyway. So coming back on a new e2, or a tourist visa in your case, shouldn’t matter at immigration.

  • Carny_vor

    hi- my midnight run was a bit weird, I gave my two months notice so that I wouldnt finish until after my first six months were up and then a week before I was due to leave (with all my visas sorted- i was taking the train home to england through russia) she told me I couldn’t go so I quit’. So you cant always do the right thing even when you try.
    Anyway- when you reapplied for a new job did you mention your previous job in korea or pretend you were a first time applicant?

    • http://acouplevagabonds.com Joe

      Yes I had an interview a day or two after I got home and I told them about the midnight run first thing. This is another reason why its not such a big deal. They asked why I left but then said it was no big deal and a new visa would be no problem and the interview moved right along away from the topic.

      I really think there is nothing that can be done to you for running. Immigration must be aware of the fact that there are bad employers in korea and people have to quit sometimes.

  • Obaob_janice

    hi..im philippines i also did a midnight run but i voluntary exit last year of july,i want to go back to korea and i dont know if im banned or how many years i long to wait..

  • Laith

    Unless you commit a verified crime in Korea or got caught working illegally, then there is nothing that would have prevented you from being let in on any type of visa. Pulling a midnight run is irresponsible and inconsiderate, but in Korea, like most developed countries, simply ditching your job is not illegal. Just think how many people back home would be behind bars if it were! And even if your school wanted to go after for pulling a runner, they would come under a lot of heat and maybe (?) get in bigger trouble than you. Most of the time, they just wait for your visa to expire.

  • Loofa

    If I left and didn’t cancel my visa, do you think if I went back and cancelled it as I was leaving the second time that it would work? I never even applied for an ARC.

  • Abby

    I was in korea aug.28,2009 ,and i stayed there without visa for 6 months then i go back to phils .aug 3 ,2010 .. when i get to the airport they did checked my passport and just put departure on it and thats it . Im just wondering if i can still go back to korea after 2 yrs because i don’t stay there for a year without visa like others did .Can go back to korea ? please i need a sure answer about this issue . thank you