Expat: Dying in Korea

Being a foreigner in another country has many exceptional opportunities.  It also lends itself to thoughts, conversations and sometimes actions involving the more dismal yet realistic side of life. Death and/or illness of either yourself or family members back home.

It is a real question and can be a real problem for some foreigners. 

Sometimes expat families have a seriously sick child or a single expat dies alone in their apartment only to be found a couple of days later by their company.  Both of these examples have happened since we have been here.

Family members getting very sick and/or dying back home.  It happens. 

What do you do if/when that email or Skype call comes in?  Is it possible to fly home? Will you be fired if you go? Will you have a job when you come back?  How can you pay for the flight?

As far as your legal rights, it technically depends on your job. Are you an independent contractor? Public or private sector? Hagwon....? Teacher or other?

Something positive in all of this is that the  government will pay you a death benefit to help cover your flight home/back depending upon who has passed.  Immediate family is the requirement.  In Korea, immediate family consists of mother, father, siblings, and  grandparents.  You also get up to 14 days/2 weeks (including weekends) if it is a family member back home. If it is family here (expats married to Koreans) you only get 3 days including the weekend.

You must provide the death certificate to the Korean government then you will receive a percentage amount of the total in your pension account.  Generally speaking, the amount usually is the cost of a round trip ticket home.

However,  this will not apply to you if you do not receive government pension. If you are a private contractor, for instance, you will not receive this payment.

Friends and family here usually try and set aside a certain amount per month for these types of instances.  The ones who do not usually ask friends for funds.

*sigh*

If an American expat dies their body is taken and an autopsy performed then the body is cremated.  If the family requests the body delivered home then a family member must come collect it. If, for religious reasons, the body must have various practices done then it is hoped a relative or friend in the country can notify the authorities of that.

As far as wills and all of the paperwork, nothing is valid in this country from your home country. You must have papers drawn up here.  Especially if you have children. 

Sad business, but very much need to know.