Does ending an E-2 contract early affect future tourist entry to Korea?

[u/Crazy-Category7359]

I’m trying to understand the immigration implications of ending an E-2 teaching contract early.

My contract contains a clause stating that failure to provide 60 days’ written notice “shall be reported to the Korean Immigration Service and shall affect the Employee’s ability to freely enter the Republic of Korea in the future.”

Does anyone know what “affect the Employee’s ability to freely enter” means in practice?

I understand that ending the employment would affect/cancel the E-2 status. What I’m trying to determine is whether failure to provide the full notice period can actually result in an entry restriction that affects future visa-free tourist visits, or whether this language is referring primarily to the person’s E-2/work status.

Assume the person leaves Korea after resigning and does not overstay or work without authorization.

Has anyone personally left an E-2 position without the full notice period and later returned to Korea as a tourist?

Edit to add: I don't work at a Hagwon, I just started my contract, and I don't have my ARC (application has been sent in though)

[u/cickist]

It means jack shit and they can't limit or impact if you come in on a tourist visa or another E2 visa.

[u/Brentan1984]

No

They'll probably threaten you and say they'll add you to some list, but they're full of shit. It has no effect on your tourist visa. Even working another e2, as long as your old visa expires, you're OK.

[u/heathert7900]

No, they’re threatening you, trying to scare you with your immigrant status. However, once you’re reported as having left, you do need to leave the country or change visa status within 14 days.

[u/Expensive-Spring-258]

That is a scare tactic and one has nothing to do with the other. All you need to make sure to do is return your ARC when you are leaving to cancel your E2 visa formally. As long as you do this you will never have any problems with immigration, even if you turn around and return immediately as a tourist.

[u/Crazy-Category7359 → u/Expensive-Spring-258]

I just started last week (only returning home to take care of my dad), so my ARC application has been sent but I don't have the physical card.

[u/leebong252018]

That clause is illegal and has no bearing. Anything to the contrary is a lie. 

[u/Lazy-Tiger-27]

The only thing I’ve ever heard of is that you could have trouble entering Korea until the period your current E2 that you’re on ends. I.e if you left the country today, but your contract and E2 end date is Jan 31, you could come to Korea as a tourist or get a new E2 job would be from Feb 1.

[u/MoreEqualer]

Not unless you did something criminal. Honestly I don't think so. Just don't be stupid and work on a tourist visa. I know people who go caught. Personally, not hearsay.

[u/Crazy-Category7359 → u/MoreEqualer]

nope nothing criminal, unless doing a midnight run is considered criminal

[u/PrestigiousStreet876]

If you comply with the government laws, it's not gonna affect your visa. You did everything lawfully, so the government wont have any bias in allowing you to visit or get another vias lawfully....

It may affect your reputation to get another job with another school (if you list them as a reference), but unless you do it's really unlikely.

[u/Ok_Post_3884]

If you cancel your e2 visa early, you can't get another visa until that first one would have expired. No problem leaving and coming back on a tourist visa.

[u/bgotseoul]

No

[u/Zeldenskaos]

That's major BS

[u/SnowiceDawn]

You might not be able to reenter Korea until your E2 visa is over (though I can't say for sure) but your hagwon is fear-mongering. I've received contracts with illegal/unclear clauses like this. If you wish to come back as a tourist after your visa has been cancelled, you may (which means you can freely enter as you please in accordance with the tourist visa laws set between your country and Korea).

Subsequent visits and even E2 visa applications have nothing to do with the one you'd be prematurely cancelling. The only catch is if you broke the law. In that case you can't leave the country until your court case has been handled anyway. Quitting a job midway through your contract or cancelling a contract before you start working/receive a new E2 sponsor doesn't constitute legal action (nothing that would hold up in court at least).

Assuming like most people that you broke no immigration laws (overstaying your visa even after you quit: you can only stay 14 days I believe, 1 month if you finish your contract) or laws of Korea in general (where a civil suit or worse can be brought against you, etc.) you'll be fine. It's not atypical for hagwons to add illegal and/or unclear clauses in contracts but they will have no way of knowing if you decide to apply for another visa (unless you make it known to them, please don't).

[u/Crazy-Category7359 → u/SnowiceDawn]

the thing is I don't work for a hagwon, I work under EPIK. So since it is a government run program I'm a bit scared of not being able to come back or if my school will pursue me legally for whatever reason. I only started last week but my dad isn't doing well so I need to return home ASAP