Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BuHaoChi]

.....

[The_Conservative]

[rockstarsmooth]

i know a woman who is writing an article about it.
i'm doing nothing.
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right now i'm listening to: butthole surfers - strawberry

[pocariboy73]

EDIT

[rockstarsmooth]

[pocariboy73]

Myself, I've tried my best to keep a cool head through out the past 3 weeks but a few times my temper has got the best of me:

1) Sorry, but edited for privacy reasons
2) Again sorry, but edited for privacy reasons
3) Met with Chris from the Herald in Noeun dong, Daejon and explained the current situation for approx. 2 hours.
4) Phoned Daejon Immigration and asked them if they were aware of there number on the hawgon buses. They said they were not and would look into the situation.
5) Phoned "Charles" numerous times before and after his admission of being a wanjungnim. Politely asked him to take down those banners. He said they would be down by the weekend. He said he had no idea they would offend so many people and apologized for all the misunderstandings as he was just a "volunteer/wanjungnim".
6) Gave lengthy presentations to ALL my adult students, both inside my Uni. and outside, about the hagwon situation in Korea. Had them all study the pictures, the letters to the editors, and the writings by Chris at the Herald. All of the students expressed how bad and ashamed they felt about Korea. I told them it wasn't Korea's fault but just the greed of many hagwons. I let them all know the names of the bad hagwons. Some of them had kids in there, but due to this recent situation, they will be changing schools. Many of these students, have studied/lived abroad, have families of their own with kids enrolled in hagwons,so unlike younger students, have more of an open mind and are able to empathize with me. Also, they have many good connections with other government officials in Daejeon. They promised me they would pass the news to them.
7) Had a few Korean professors at my university phone immigration and the hagwon association and express their disbelief over the situation. I figure the more people who call, especially in high positions, the better the effect.
8] Photocopied all the great letters to the editor and Chris's works and distributed them to the Korean professors. Most of them felt ashamed that this was happening in Korea. Some of them told me they would tell other people not to enroll their kids in those hagwons.
9) In the midst of preparing a "portfolio" of all the articles, photos, and letters. Will be sending them out to EVERY government branch (local & national).
10) Tried to help several teachers who currently work at those "banner schools" by having them report the situation first-hand, or drive them to immigration. All of them said "Thanks, but no thanks" "We just wanna finish our contracts in peace, however bad it may be"
11) Sorry, but probably the most important thing I'm doing right now, I don't feel comfortable discussing it on this public forum.

Other than that, keeping cool and counting down the days until I take my much needed vacation so that I can restore myself for the wonderful events in August.

[Typhoon]

I have not done a lot yet, but a group of people are close to getting some things done.

My wife and friends have written letters to Korean newspapers on the issue. No response, not published (maybe poorly written letters? I don't know)

I am currently finishing a letter to Herald. Final exams are finished so I should get it done tomorrow.

A small group of Daejeonites are organizing a petition for Korean nationals asking that existing laws are enforced in regard to hagwon and that an oversight committee be organized to watch over hagwon and ensure they are providing quality education. This will be sent to gov't offices and anyone who can get something done. Currently trying to get the wording right. Hope to have it ready by Monday so it can be taken around to major centers next week and sent to gov't offices sooner than later.

A group of Daejeonites are organizing a petition for foreigners in Korea (looking in to the legality of foreigners signing a petition while on E-2 visas). This is similar to the petition for Korean nationals.

A group of Daejeonites are working on a campaign to enlighten Koreans about how hagwons are costing them money (via cheating on medical, pension and tax evasion)and doing a poor job educating their children (maybe this part is too much and will be taken out). In addition to this the group would like to provide Koreans with a means to find out what hagwon are following the law (looking in to the legality of providing this information in regards to Korean libel/slander laws).

Hopefully the petitions will be good to go beginning of next week. Ideally the organization providing information on hagwons would be created by a branch of gov't. However, this seems that it is not likely to happen. The plan to get this organization off the ground without the gov't is in place, but we believe that we should let the petition runs its course first. You have to walk before you can run.

I also have organized some meetings at different gov't offices next week. We will see how they go.

Things I have actually done:

Meeting with people in national gov't offices (pencil pushers) to discuss the issue and trying to convince them that it is a real "Korean issue".

Giving free information sessions to moms informing them about what hagwon may "suit" their children's learning style.

Photocopying all articles in the Herald and handing them out to all Koreans that I know (my wife is about to kill me).

Getting more long time foreign residents of Daejeon informed of the issues and interested in doing something (this will make a difference in a week or two I am sure).

Got Mr. Moon�s phone number, but have yet to do anything with it. I am not sure it is wise to throw any fuel on the fire right now. I want to call to inquire about how he will give the apology he promised to the foreign community.

Just wrote a letter to the tax office regarding language institutes.

I hope that this list is a lot better by the end of next week. With any luck it will be.

[pocariboy73]

I am very interested in what the FLEA (Foreign Language Educators Association) of Daejeon has come up with. They, I assume, have considerable clout in Daejeon as they are connected with various organizations, hagwons, and agencies. The acting President, being a Warden to the Canadian Embassy, is in a great position to make a difference, I would think. In one of Chris's articles, the Presidents reaction and plans were quoted and I got the impression that some big plans were in the works. Did that all sizzle out? I hope it wasn't all talk

http://www.fleakorea.upcsites.com/aboutus.html

Keeping Them Honest!

[canukteacher]

I also sent a letter to Chris, and he wanted to publish it and I missed the deadline to get back to him. I'm certainly interested in being involved, if I can be of help. Anyone here who is doing anything can email me. My location here says Seoul, but I am in Daejeon.

[BuHaoChi]

[EDITED]

[wylies99]

[wylies99]

Just to respond to a couple of PM's- No, I DON'T live in Daejeon, but I'll stick up for teachers who've done nothing wrong but are getting crap from crooked hogwan owners. Plus, if a recruiter is making money off the same teachers and turning a blind eye to the illegal activities of the hogwan owners, then I will definitely say something.

[khreporter]

Rather than send private messages to those concerned, I would like to offer a public thanks to those posters on here who have made the effort to send in letters, pictures, and articles. And good luck to those who are continuing to take this issue to the authorities.

We have the "ink" if you have the story.

Chris Gelken

chrisgelken (at) heraldm.com

[Bramble]

Sorry to sound negative, but ... OK, no I don't. That was kind of a lie.

I'm a hagwon teacher too and it's not exactly a job to save the world. But don't you think "our terrible plight" has been done to death in the Herald? We have it pretty easy compared to most foreign workers.

[khreporter]

I sent this as a pm to the above poster, and then thought, what the hell, why not share my frustration.


Yes, many of you do have it easier than other migrant workers here in Korea.
And if your hagwon is paying tax, pension and you are covered with health insurance, then good luck to you.
But if you are not covered.. let's say you have an accident while touring, or your hagwon goes under and... and...
Let's say you are one of the hundreds of teachers who have to resort to the courts to.... whoa, sorry, getting carried away.
But then, you are okay, so the problems of others is no concern of yours and The Korea Herald "doing it to death" is rather tiresome for you.
I sincerely apologize for offending you by standing up for the rights of those whose rights are being abused.








Not.