Korean Job Discussion Forums

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

I've been working in a large hagwon in Seoul for 6 months. I suspect that one of my foreign co-workers has some serious mental and emotional problems.

He actually HIT/ struck an elementary school child. Open handed, slap-to the face. The director covered up for him when mum complained. The owner, finding it hard to recruit other foreigners, let it go. Took him out of that classroom and buried it.

Then, he told a young middle school girl that he would make her sit on him for the rest of the class if she spoke korean. She ran away, tears in eyes.

Reprecusions? The owner stripped him of the class. The director told mum it was a cultural misunderstanding. Fine'

On top of that, this kid has made comments like, "she's the kind of girl I would marry", and she'll be a hot piece of arse when she's older", regarding STUDENTS!

The other foreigners turn a blind eye. The Koreans turn a blind eye.

I only wonder, is learning English-e so important that Koreans would compromise the safety of their children by letting some arseface around their kids? Or is it the profit in the hagwon system?

My temporary conclusion is that korean hagwon owners do not care about the kids. nor do most westerners who come here to teach English-e.

This teacher is leaving this month. I only wonder what harm the avarice of the hagwon owner, the complacency of the korean and foreign teachers, and my inability to warn others that there is a potential pedophile in the mix will cause down the line.

Am I to blame when this guy molests a Taiwain girl or boy next year?

Is there anything that a foreigner can do when confronted with this type of situation?

PGF,

Sad in Seoul.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

That sounds extremely serious - I've always kind of thought that the system here would be a pedophile's dream...background checks? Are there any? There are sex offender notices for neighborhoods, but it doesn't seem like it for the ESL industry in Asia.

I wouldn't play hero, it seems like it will never pay in this country. The most I would do is maybe make an anonymous tip to the police - having someone do it in Korean would be even better. Definitely distance yourself as much as possible from the guy.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

uh, a phone call or a physical note, at that. not that website that no one takes seriously.

Mix1 · Joined: 08 May 2007

That guy sounds very unprofessional.
But, Instead of ratting him out for something he hasn't even done...
how about TELLING him his teaching behavior is unprofessional ??
This doesn't have to be confrontational, maybe just something like letting him know a certain behavior is inappropriate or whatever. Maybe he has no idea that he is offending people... so, let him know.
Probably more effective than snitching behind his back and possibly causing some pedophile scandal...

bosintang · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject:

I think there's a reporter for SBS somewhere in here who would love to hear this story, along with the school's name.

Kimchi Cha Cha · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane

I agree with Mix1.

The first and most important initial step is tell him in a non-confrontational manner that you're concerned about some of his behavior and don't think it's appropriate. By not saying anything, the guy feels more enpowered to do what he feels and will become more provocative if not confronted. Hopefully, if you and a couple of other co-workers confront him about his behavior it might be the wake up call he needs to get his act together. If he disregards what you guys say, ignoring it and continues to act inappropriate, that's when you should take the next step.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

that sounds like it would be a great idea...in america. however, it seems, assuming the OP's claims are legit, the boss is on the perp's side and the coworkers don't care. pretty hard to have an open dialogue if you're the lone ranger.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Maybe he will see this thread?

jeffkim1972 · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

Why is everyone so afraid to confront this guy?

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

There's nothing in your post that suggests to me he is a paedophile.

vox · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Location: Jeollabukdo

Gatsby · Joined: 09 Feb 2007

How about getting him a job teaching English in Afghanistan?

Preferably at a nice Christian school.

Bondgirl · Joined: 26 May 2007 Location: in my Aston Martin

Revolting.
Sends shivers up my spine and reminds me of a young substitute teacher we had when I was about 8. If a girl talked during class he made her stand on his desk and he would spank/rub her back side and he'd make her continue standing there for about 5 minutes while he sat down and got a good look up her skirt. We all thought it was weird- he particularly liked one girl and humiliated her several times one class. I told my grandmother and she stood up to the plate and had him withdrawn from the sub-teacher register. Thinking about it now, all I can see is some retarded pervert with a boner rubbing my friend's behind infront of us. You have to stand up to him for the sake of the kids. You don't touch little girls and he has to be confronted. Question him straight up, not in some odd-ball 'take him out for a drink and say you find some kid cute' kind of way.
Tell him 'You have no right to touch little girls. Your comments are inappropriate. Please explain yourself".
Please be bold, PGF. You are not pals with this guy and he is leaving so you lose nothing if you are in the wrong. If you have the courage to stand up and confront him, you will gain the self respect you seek, my respect for sure, the possibility of preventing him from humiliating or harming another kid, you will clear the air and eliminate the tenseness you feel when around him. Imagine being courageous and saying to him 'I don't like that behaviour....' You will become a powerful person if you have the strength to say what you truely feel. Please don't be the nice guy, kicking it under the rug. You'll feel disappointed in yourself for not questioning his motives. He may really need an intervention programme. You be the man who suggests it.
The things in life that matter are the hardest. Standing up to a co-worker like that over such a taboo subject is bloody hard, not the easy way out, but it is one of the things that elevates you to SuperHuman status.
Over and out.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

yeppers, had a guy like this at my first job. Wonder if its the same guy? Anyway, besides beating the students and enjoying excessive, "back massages" from girl students, he also liked to start fights with other FTs in the office. It was maybe one of the only times I was truly embarrassed to be a foreigner in Korea....