Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

I work at an after-school program. The illegal kind- two bank books, a principal that gets a few million won a month in kickbacks, and a rule not to tell the parents about the agency's existence (since the agency is acting illegally, no one must know about it).

Since I'm working for them, I've obviously profiting from this illegal scheme as well. Does this make me corrupt too? I'm not taking bribes, but I am going along with a corrupt business. If I am corrupt, is the only way to absolve myself to give back all the salary I've made? If so, who would I give it to?

If I shouldn't go along with it, does this mean I should call the Ministry of Education, Labor, Pension and Tax offices? What would happen to all parties involved- arrests? Jail time?

Would I be justified in making it a personal mission to shut down as many of these programs as I can? Working at one for long enough to get all the information, calling it in to get is shut down, then jumping to another one to do the same?

Philosophy and ethics has always been an interest of mine. Please participate in this discussion if you want, and most importantly, give reasons for any arguments you contribute.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

What's your payoff/kickback?

[Whistleblower]

I understand that if you are involved in this form of afterschool program, you will be opening yourself to potential problems. These include tax evasion, no medical, no pension etc. These are in direct violation against the law and could mean that if this afterschool program is found, then you could be jailed, fined and deported.

However, if you tip off the authorities and declare everything to the tax office, education ministry and immigration then there shouldn't be a problem for you. They may "slap you on the wrist" and there are no serious repercussions. However, the repercussions for the principal (who should be named and shamed) and the agency would be worst. Tax evasion is serious and illegal.

You could speak to the education ministry, after you notify them of this illegal afterschool program, that you could find more programs like this in the area and "name and shame them". I respect that you are doing this but further advice would be to go to the local/national papers about this so that people know that this is still going on.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with this.

[bacasper]

If you knew this from the beginning, why did you start working there? In any event, since you did, yes, you are corrupt, too. My guess is that you will be somehow sanctioned for your involvement, and possibly jailed or expelled from the country.

In my philosophy, it is unethical to be a snitch. Have you never done anything wrong? Have you paid every cent on your taxes? Have you never jaywalked? How would you like it if someone turned you in? Or do you prefer the police state in which each person goes running to the cops about his fellow citizens? Having lived in such a place (Cuba), I know I do not.

I do not understand why you want to make it your personal mission, like some vigilante going up against all the illegal hagwons. Whatever happened to minding one's own business?

if you don't like it, quit and find another, legal job.

[iiicalypso]

I am not sure that you are asking the right question. I don't think you are necesarily corrupt-- are you benefiting from the corruption? Not in any direct way as far as I can tell. Are you "impure"? Sure, but who isn't.

I think the more important issue is whether there is a benefit to this corruption. Do students learn anything in this program? If they are, then I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Ask yourself-- would this program even exist if not for corruption? Even if your principal only utilized the program for his own good (financial gain), there is still a benefit to the students. If there was no financial incentive (corrupt as it is), there would be nothing in place, right?

Wasn't it Boss Tweed who once made the distinction between honest graft and dishonest graft? I highly doubt that anything, anywhere would be accomplished without corruption of some sort. It gets bridges built, buildings erected, after school programs put in place.

I don't personally like the idea, but until somebody finds a way to remove self interest and greed from the human condition, it will persist. I think it is more useful to look at the big picture. In the end I think it is far better to have a good after school porgram benefitting students than it is to have nothing at all.

[cerulean808]

When in Rome...

[MarionG]

Hmmm, shouldn't be a snitch? So if you knew that a guy was raping a young girl, you'd be "unethical" not to snitch? If you knew that someone was skimming money from the till, you'd be "unethical" to snitch?

And if only the absolutely never-did-a-single-thing-wrong-in-their-whole-lives-people could sit on juries, be police officers, judges and prosecutors, you'd but us all in a pretty pickle with you "ethics."

Strange set of values...

[bacasper]

OK, I should have qualified that, as in "...except for police officers." And juries absolutely should contain fallible people so at least in that case the defendant might have a chance.

And if a rape victim sought my help, I absolutely would help her.

[tzechuk]

The core of individual ethics is what you believe you be right or wrong.

You only have yourself to answer to in the end.