Travelers from the following countries are therefore not exempted from quarantine: South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Suriname, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Malta, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines

In Filipino, mula ika-1 ng Hulyo ay mga biyahero na hindi na kailangan mag-quarantine kung sila ay may kumpletong bakuna laban sa COVID19 gamit ang mga bakuna na pinayagan ng WHO or World Health Organization. Kung ang dahilan ng pagbibiyahe ay para sa pag-aaral, negosyo, opisyal na biyahe, at pagbisita sa pamilya. Noong ika-29 ng Hunyo ay inanunsyo ng KDCA, na siyang ahensya para sa COVID19, na tinatanggal na ang “eksempsyon” sa “quarantine” para sa apat na bansa – Pilipinas, India, Indonesia, at Pakistan. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay kailangan pa rin mag-quarantine kung manggagaling sa mga bansang nabanggit. Ang dahilan ay ang patuloy na pagtaas ng mga nagpopositibo sa COVID19.

Sa ngayon ang mga byahero mula South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Suriname, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Malta, India, Indonesia, Pakistan at Philippines ay kailangan pa rin mag-quarantine pagdating sa Korea.

Sources:
Quarantine to be waived for people inoculated abroad

인도·인도네시아·파키스탄·필리핀 변이 유행국…격리면제 제외

His class ended that Tuesday at 4:40 pm. He sent a message that he will go home after his evening studies (usually ends at 10pm). He left his cellphone on his desk. He went to a bookstore and bought five workbooks for self-study. He was last seen exiting an elevator near a bus stop.

The police has been tracking his movements from that time. A review of black boxes of buses identified him taking a village bus and getting off near a training center. Authorities deployed 180 personnel from three mobile units, helicopters, drones and search dogs to look for him. Posters were distributed and shared online and even a petition on the presidential website was posted to help look for him.

On the morning of June 28, 2021, his body was found 30 minutes after the search resumed. His head was covered in black vinyl bag and it is believed that he died of asphyxiation. The police said that there is no foul play. The family wishes for privacy.

Kim Hee Sung was a third year high school student. Later this year, he would be taking the college entrance exam or KSAT.

Note: I wrote my thoughts about this and academic pressure in Korea as I have a middle school aged son and I also teach high school students. I just decided to delete what I wrote and be objective, but I really feel sad about this.

Sources:
https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_202106282208200898

https://ssamu15.tistory.com/24

https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2021062811565437836

It is because of Lie Sang Bong’s consistent support for the multicultural community and his status as a fashion designer that the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has appointed him to head the “2021 Multicultural Dreaming School” (2021 이상봉 디자이너와 함께 하는 꿈토링스쿨).

PROGRAM DETAILS

Registration Information

Registration Date – May 7 to 20
Process – http://naver.me/G5rzaqgD
For inquiries – 02-6949-2006 or 02-3999-113

There are currently 112 countries with visa-waiver agreement or designated visa-free entry countries with South Korea. This means that nationals of these countries will not need to apply for a short-term visa to enter the country. They can just hop on a plane and enter the country without applying for a visa prior to their trip. However, from May 3, 2021, they will be required to apply for the K-ETA by visiting the website http://www.k-eta.go.kr

The K-ETA is similar to the US ESTA wherein nationals of countries that can travel visa-free to the US have to apply for the authorization beforehand. The validity of the K-ETA is two years and will cost 10,000 won (waived from May to August 2021).

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, there will only be 21 countries that are eligible for the K-ETA. These are the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Nicaragua, Dominican Federation, Barbados, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Malta, Ireland, Guyana, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino, Andorra, Albania, Slovenia, Guam, New Caledonia, and Palau.

Travelers are advised to check the list since this may change due to the COVID19 situation.

The official document can be viewed from the MOEL website. We have summarized the content of the document as follows:

Subject: 1 Year Extension of Stay of Foreign Workers

The government recognizes the difficulties of small and medium enterprises, farming and fishing villages that are suffering from labor shortages amidst the continuing COVID19 epidemic.

Approximately 70,000 to 100,000 workers will be affected by this extension. Only those with E-9 or H-2 visa.

Naiintindihan ng gobyerno ang hirap ng mga maliit na pabrika, sakahan at palaisdaan sa kinakaharap na kakulangan ng empleyado dala ng pandemya o COVID19.

Mahigit na 70,000 hangang 100,000 trabahador ang maaapektuhan ng ekstenyon. Ito ay ang may E-9 o H-2 visa.

Background

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the number of incoming E-9 workers has been reduced sharply since April 2020.

The number of foreign workers staying in Korea has decreased significantly.

Foreign workers have difficulty entering and leaving the country due to reduced flights. The labor shortage intensifies at SMEs, farming, and fishing villages.

In December 2020, the Foreign Service Policy Committee decided to extend the period of employment of foreign workers limited to within five years for up to one year.

As the National Assembly passed the revision of the Foreign Workers Employment Act in March, the government decided to extend the stay and employment period of foreign workers by one year.

Dahil sa COVID19, lumiit ang bilang ng mga dayuhang trabahador sa Korea. Nabawasan ang mga bagong pasok na E-9 at H-2 na empleyado. Tingnan ang nasa itaas.

Hirap ang mga dayuhang trabahador na lumabas at pumasok ng bansa dahil sa kakulangan sa biyaheng panghimpapawid. Dahil dito, napagpasiyahang ng gobyerno na pahabain pa ng isang taon ang pananatili ng mga empleyado sa bansa.

Extension of Employment

Foreign workers subject to this one-year extension are those with E-9 and H-2 visas, under the Foreign Workers Employment Act. It is for foreign workers whose employment period (3 years or 4 years and 10 months) expires within April 13 to December 31, 2021, the effective date of the revision. However, foreign workers whose employment period has expired before the effective date of the revised law are not subject to the same extension measures due to the expiration of their stay qualifications.

In the case of general foreign workers (E-9), measures to extend the current stay and employment period by 50 days shall be changed to one year extension.

In the case of visiting ethnic Koreans (H-2), the period of stay and employment activities shall be extended by one year only to workers who have issued a certificate of special employment at the employment center and reported the commencement of work.

The government plans to extend the period of employment for foreign workers without applying for individual stay and extension of the period of employment by foreign workers and employers.

However, the employer shall apply for an extension of the period of labor contract with foreign workers and the extension of the period of employment permit accordingly. The employer may report the commencement of work of foreign workers to the employment center under his/her jurisdiction or report the commencement of employment to the immigration and foreign authorities directly.

Ang makakakuha ng isang taon na ekstensyon ay ang mga may E-9 at H-2 visa na magtatapos sa pagitan ng Abril 13 hangang Disyembre 31, 2021. Ang mga natapos na ang visa bago ang Abril 13 ay hindi maaapektuhan dahil paso na ang visa bago naipasa ang pagpapalit sa batas.

Ang mga may-ari ng kumpanya ay dapat mag-apply ng ekstenyon ng kontrata sa pinakamalapit na employment center o sa immigration.

Noong Marso 25, 2020 ay sinuspinde ng Korean Embassy ang pagproseso ng mga visa dahil lockdown sa Pilipinas at tumataas na bilang ng mga kaso. Ito naman ay binuksan uli noong Hunyo 10, 2020 at sinara uli noong Hulyo 16, 2020. Ang pinoproseso lang nila sa ngayon ay para sa may mga asawang Koreano, diplomats, officials, at para sa humanitarian reasons.

Ang pagsuspinde ng “visa processing” ay nakaapekto ng malaki sa mga pasado sa EPS-TOPIK na hindi makaalis at pati na rin sa mga “sincere workers”. Ang mga “sincere workers” ay nakapagtrabaho na sa Korea ng mahigit 4 na taon at 11 na buwan at gusto pa rin ng kanilang mga employer na patuloy na magtrabaho. Ngunit kailangan nilang umuwi ng Pilipinas at kumuha ng panibagong visa para rito.

Marami-rami na rin ang umuwi ng Pilipinas na umaasa na makabalik ng Korea dahil sila ay “sincere worker”. Pero dahil hindi pa nagbubukas ang Korean Embassy para sa E-9 visa, ang ilan ay “binitawan” na ng kanilang mga employer. Ang iba naman ay nagbabakasali pa rin na maayos na ang lahat.

Mahigit nang isang taon na walang Ambassador ang Pilipinas sa South Korea. At mistulang ang mga “stranded” na empleyado ay hindi alam kung sino ang makakatulong na maghanap ng solusyon sa kanilang problema. Ang Philippine Embassy ba sa Korea? Ang POEA sa Pilipinas? Ang HRD Korea? O ang Ministry of Justice? “Molla!”

Hindi iisang beses na nagdiskusyon kami ng kaibigan ko kung paano ba ang dapat gawin ng mga EPS worker na kababayan. Ordinaryong naninirahan lang naman kami dito sa Korea pero nakakapanlumo na mabasa ang mga petisyon ng ating mga kababayan sa mga Facebook posts ng Korea Times, Philippine Embassy in South Korea, at Korean Embassy in the Philippines lalo na at pawang wala namang sumasagot sa mga hinaing o katanungan nila.

Ang naisip lang namin ay baka kailangan na mag-petisyon sa website ng Presidente ng Korea. Dapat pangunahan ng mga organisasyon at may suporta ng mga employer. Ang petisyon sa website ng Presidente ay dapat magkaroon ng 200,000 na “signature” sa loob ng 30 araw bago ito maaksyunan. Hindi sigurado kung epektibo pero hindi malalaman kung hindi gagawin.

Ang mga EPS workers sa Pilipinas na hindi makaalis ay handang-handa na gawin ang lahat sa kanilang pagbabalik – 14-day na quarantine kahit sila mismo ang gumastos at COVID19 test bago umalis.

Noong isang buwan ay nagkaroon ng kaunting liwanag ng pumasa sa plenary session ng Kongreso ang panukalang amyendahan ang Foreign Employment Act para mapahaba ng isang taon ang pagtatrabaho ng mga foreign workers sa Korea. Ito ay dahil sa hirap ng paglabas at pagpasok sa bansa dahil sa pandemya. Patunay na hindi lang ang mga EPS workers ang nahihirapan sa sitwasyon, pati ang mga employer ay hirap sa produksyon.

Sa ngayon, ang tanging magagawa ay maghintay. Hindi madali magtrabaho sa ibang bansa at sigurado na kung ayos lang ang paghahanap-buhay sa Pilipinas ay hindi nanaisin ng mga kababayan natin na iwan ang pamilya para sa mas maayos na kita.

Since the pandemic began last year, it has been difficult for foreign workers (especially those with E-9 visa) to leave Korea and come back. In fact, many “sincere workers” who need to go back to their home countries before starting again have not been able to come back to Korea. They are supposed to be away only for three months but most Korean Embassies are not processing work visas for EPS workers. The Korean SMEs (small medium enterprises) then lose their experienced foreign workers.

If the bill is approved, it would mean that foreign workers in certain industries such as construction, service, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and even mining could stay for one more year if they have difficulty entering and leaving the country due to the spread of infectious disease (such as the COVID19 pandemic) or natural disasters.

Some industries in South Korea has a serious need for manpower due to the increase in minimum wage and decrease in the availability of local manpower.

Let’s hope that this bill will be signed into law as it will benefit both the workers and the Korean SMEs alike.

Sources:

News1, Farminsight, CCToday

On March 24, 2021, the Commission on Appointments approved the nomination of 5 Philippine Ambassadors. This includes a new ambassador to South Korea.

Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega is a career diplomat with over 25 years of experience serving in different parts of the world including Germany (Philippine Ambassador), New York, USA (as Consul General), and the UK (as Minister and Consul General) among others.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega has a Masteral Degree in English at Queen’s University in Canada. She graduated Cum Laude at the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

We are looking forward to Ambassador Dizon-De Vega’s presentation of her credentials to President Moon Jae In in South Korea.

Sources:

CV of Consul General Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega
CA OKs Nomination of 5 PH Envoys
Embassy of the Philippines Berlin (Photo)

The city government have decided to make the test mandatory and require even illegal workers to get it. Employers and foreign workers of companies with at least one foreign worker MUST undergo the diagnostic test.

For those working in Gyeonggido, the mandatory testing is until March 22. Many foreign workers can only go to the testing venues during the weekend. The officials probably didn’t know this so the testing centers were flooded. In one video I saw posted on Facebook, they went to the testing center on Saturday only to be told to come back the next day. These foreign workers can only rest on a weekend but they had to spend it waiting for hours for the COVID19 test. The government could have planned it better so there would still be social distancing at the testing sites. Looking at the photos and videos on social media will make one wonder if they could catch the virus at the testing location itself.

Meanwhile, foreign workers will have to test negative for COVID19 before they will be hired at businesses in Gyeonggido. The Ministry of Labor and Employment or MOLE will also conduct quarantine inspections at companies with foreign workers and particularly at their living quarters.

When government officials were asked if their policy is discriminatory, they replied that they did the same mandatory testing to Korean members of the churches that had outbreaks last year.

Sources: NoCutNews, TBS, Newsis, At Se FB

Anyway, I love trying new snacks but all those pink snacks overwhelmed my senses – and my wallet. I ended just taking photos and not getting anything. Most of these Korean snacks are limited edition – only available this spring or until supplies last.

I went to Lotte Mart in Cheongnyangni and this was what greeted me…

So where do I start to try them all??? I could just imagine how many kilograms I would gain trying each of them…