Hi. We are ‘Wo-hol-lo-seo-gi’, a group of volunteers in working holiday supporting teams for Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea in Seoul. We met a french working holiday maker by chance and had an interview with him. His name is Bastien and he is working with our teammate ji-yoo in a pup. He had many ups and downs in Korea so I listened that story at an interview.

W: Introduce yourself to us please.

B: Hi. I’m Bastien from France and 23 years old.

W: Why did you decided to come to Korea?

B: I was interested in Asian countries including Korea a lot. When I was in France I knew many Korean companies like Samsung. Most of all, I had a Korean pen-pal friend. She became my girlfriend and suggested me to come to Korea with working holiday visa.

W: How did you find information about Working holiday and How did you prepare?

B: I used some websites to look up information and the embassy gave me some help when I applied for the Visa. But I didn’t get help from government.

W: Do you have any Korean friends in France or Korea?

B: In Korea, I still keep in touch with Korean ex-coworkers but in France I don’t have any Korean friends.

W: When did you enter Korea and when will you go back to France?  

B: I entered Korea on August 31 in 2013 and I haven’t decided on when I will go back to my home country. At first I was planned to go back after 1 year, but now I want to learn more Korean and Korean culture. So I want to stay more.  

W: When was the harsh period after you came to Korea?

B: I’ve never had trouble in my work place. However I had a lot of trouble related to my Visa. To change my visa to stay more in Korea, I called to the call center ran by Immigration Office and prepared the papers and material as the operator instructed me to do. But when I went to immigration office, I figured out it was wrong information. So I told immigration officer that I just followed the instruction provided by call center. But that officer didn’t change their mind telling me that it’s not their business. I know that various institutions provide information on foreigners’ residence in Korea and their visa but they don't have any connection and there’s no unity in information. And it’s hard to get correct information and that makes foreigners confused.

W: Do you have insurance in Korea?

B: I didn't take out insurance in Korea but I took it before I came to Korea.

W: Where do you work?

B: I work at a pup as a manager. Sometimes I cook.

W: How did you get your job?

B: I used the website craiglist. I saw an ad and applied and then had an interview . My boss hired me right away and I started to work.

W: What are some bad and good things in your work place?

B: Sometimes I get a chance to cook and that’s the good thing. And the bad thing is my working hour is too long. Of course we have full timer in our pub but some workers are part-timers and most of them are students. If they can’t come to work because of their school or another reason I need to cover their shift.  

W: How much do you earn? And did you make up the contract?

B: I’m not a part timer so I get paid by monthly salary. It’s about 1.5 million won to 1.7 million won. And I wrote a signed contract when I started to work.

W: Do you want to work at another place? and if so, where?

B: Of course I’m satisfied with my job now. but If chances are allowed, I want to work at private academy or want to do tutoring. I applied to university and private academy as an English speaking instructor and I failed because I’m not a native speaker of English. (W: But you speak English like a native speaker!) Thank you, but I have strong French accent.  

W: Where do you want to go to travel in Korea?

B: I’d like to go to Je-ju island or Busan.  

W: What is the most interesting point of Korean culture?  

B: For me, Korean language. I think we can’t get to know a foreign culture without learning their language. Language is like a gate to access a different culture. So I think we should learn the Language first to go to the other country.

W: Have you ever been discriminated by Koreans?

B: Of course I have and that’s not a big deal. I’m a foreigner and you can be discriminated as a foreigner in anywhere else in the world. I’m a European and I look different with Korean. If I am in France and I would think that Asians look different too. Difference is natural. I am not saying that racial discrimination is natural, but we all look different. We should take it granted.  

W: Do you have anything to say to MOFA?

B: Actually I don't’ know MOFA well and maybe most foreigners are same with me. So I want you guys to advertise what MOFA is and what MOFA is doing. And I don’t have anything to request you. I just want to say ‘Keep up the good work’.  

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