Korean Job Discussion Forums

ESL2007 · Joined: 04 May 2007

"This is not your home you foreigner, you're just a foreigner" was shouted at a friend of mine by 2 Korean Co-teachers at a GEPIK public school. Yeah, some might assume that it was his fault but I kow him well, he is dilligent, respectful, astute and extremely nice. Yet I guess when you are too nice in Korea people take advantage of you a trick you or whatever.

So I want to send a sincere warning out to future teachers, BE CAREFUL. DON"T SIGN A CONTRACT WITH GEPIK. These kinds of things do happen under this program. Be very careful. Go with SMOE. DO NOT for with GEPIK!

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ESL2007 · Joined: 04 May 2007

It was over some tedious request or something. Regardless of what he did, unless it was really bad, it doesn't call for being racially harassed and intimidated in a public setting. The guy is nerdy and overly accomodating but is nice. I just can't understand why this behavior would be allowed in a public school. Is GEPIK run by people with this attitude? Is that why I hear that they let the schools get away with it?

luvnpeas · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:14 am Post subject: Re: GEPIK Racist Harassment

luvnpeas · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:23 am Post subject:

I just looked at ESL2007's post history. Out of a total of 30 posts, 27 are complaints about employers/recruiters, and the vast majority of those are complaints about GEPIK. It looks like a single-purpose account created for GEPIK-bashing.

richardlang · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Location: Gangnam

Notwithstanding the call to wholly avoid GEPIK, I don't think one can dismiss this kind of incident (e.g. name calling) out of hand.

I wouldn't think it prudent to smear the entire GEPIK program, of course. However, a lot of this 'putting foreigners in their place' occurs for myriad reasons and it's bound to happen in a very homogenous country.

It doesn't surprise me, but you have to toughen up and get on in this world because you just have to.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Op...what exactly are you looking for in this thread? Why would you post it? A warning? From who? You, an internet spook. About who? An internet spooks' friend. No details, nothing.

Your story is as suspect as your credibility.

Bravo your friend's life. Have a good time. Korea Sparkling.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

chriswylson · Joined: 20 Feb 2007

Why are you upset? It's not your home here (=fact) and you're a foreigner (=fact). You didn't realize that?

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

Tell them Korea is your home until the expiry date on your ARC card.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

A mature response to the immature attack would be, instead of assailing the program as a whole, to take the grievance to the following individuals, in order, until a satisfactory resolution (apology from the offendors) is reached:

1. Department Head.
2. Vice Principal.
3. Principal.
4. School Inspector for regional Office of Education.
5. Director of foreign teachers (or whatever the title is for that position) at the provinicial Office of Education.

Not that I believe the OP either.

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

http://www.das.ohio.gov/ocb/scope/App%20B.htm

patongpanda · Joined: 06 Feb 2007

Do other teachers actually have any contact with this GEPIK organisation?

I think they just provide the moolah. They don't have any involvement beyond that. Oh yeah they do the orientation thingy too.

We only have a relationship with our particular schools. Which is a problem if your principal is an asshat or your co-teach is a psycho - there will be no help from above.