South Korea: Serving Him in Asia
4/8/2002: Last Thursday I went to the immigration office and was greeted with, "You have broken the law. You are a criminal. You must sign a statement" Since the company I was teaching with told me they had filed a lawsuit against SK Dept. of Immigration, they were trying to intimidate foreign teachers into making a confession. I was told by my superiors not to make a statement or confess anything.
I told the immigration man I didn't know enough about Korean immigration laws to know what was legal and what was not. We talked back and forth for about 20 minutes while the man continually kept asking me to write a statement saying I have broken the law and my company also has broken the law (they said it was illegal for foreign teachers to teach at Myongji University where I was). I said I didn't know and wasn't familiar with the law. When the man insisted I write a statement admitting guilt, I said, "I would be glad to do so, but first I would need to speak with the American Embassy or an Immigration lawyer." In response to this, he threw my passport on the table, stood up and yelled at me for about 10 minutes. When he finished, another man called me to his desk.
The second man introduced himself as the first man's boss and explained again everything that was said. He again asked me for a statement. I said I would give one but I can't write what either immigration or my company tells me. I have to say what is true to me. After the statement was written it wasn't what they wanted but they sent me on my way quickly.
Today (Monday), I was called to the immigration office again and had my Bible with me. I read from the Psalms on the way to the office because I was nervous and kind of scared. After a few questions they were finished with me. The first man I spoke with on Thursday (the one that yelled at me) said "Is that a Bible?" I replied, "Yes". He said, "You are a Christian?". "Yes, are you?" He replied, "No. God doesn't love me. I'm too bad. He only loves you." I explained that God does love him very much and Jesus died to forgive him of his sins. I said, "God does love you very much". PRAISE GOD! I got an opportunity to witness to a government official in the immigration office in spite of his unkindness toward me.
I told the immigration man I didn't know enough about Korean immigration laws to know what was legal and what was not. We talked back and forth for about 20 minutes while the man continually kept asking me to write a statement saying I have broken the law and my company also has broken the law (they said it was illegal for foreign teachers to teach at Myongji University where I was). I said I didn't know and wasn't familiar with the law. When the man insisted I write a statement admitting guilt, I said, "I would be glad to do so, but first I would need to speak with the American Embassy or an Immigration lawyer." In response to this, he threw my passport on the table, stood up and yelled at me for about 10 minutes. When he finished, another man called me to his desk.
The second man introduced himself as the first man's boss and explained again everything that was said. He again asked me for a statement. I said I would give one but I can't write what either immigration or my company tells me. I have to say what is true to me. After the statement was written it wasn't what they wanted but they sent me on my way quickly.
Today (Monday), I was called to the immigration office again and had my Bible with me. I read from the Psalms on the way to the office because I was nervous and kind of scared. After a few questions they were finished with me. The first man I spoke with on Thursday (the one that yelled at me) said "Is that a Bible?" I replied, "Yes". He said, "You are a Christian?". "Yes, are you?" He replied, "No. God doesn't love me. I'm too bad. He only loves you." I explained that God does love him very much and Jesus died to forgive him of his sins. I said, "God does love you very much". PRAISE GOD! I got an opportunity to witness to a government official in the immigration office in spite of his unkindness toward me.
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