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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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 Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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South Korea Enslaves (not "embraces") Foreigners:
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South Korean labour laws reduce migrant workers to slaves
Submitted by ron collins on Tue, 2004-03-16 22:34. International Migration
Since March 9, seven migrant workers have been on a hunger strike in immigration detention centers in Hwasung and Yesoo and at Myeongdong Cathedral. The conditions of these deportation centers are even worse than South Korean prisons. These workers have basically put their lives "on the line" for migrant rights in South Korea.
On July 31st 2003, the South Korean government passed a new migrant worker management system, entitled, the Act on Employment of Foreign Labourers or otherwise known as the Employment Permit System (EPS). This law is to take into effect on August 2004. This new law along with the Industrial Trainee System is basically South Korean's version of a slave system.
To migrant workers, the EPS is a law that allows slavery. According to the new law, migrant workers can work in South Korea for only three years and for only one employer. Since migrant workers cannot change their work place, the employer basically has complete control over the wages and working conditions of migrant workers; thus these workers are bound to the employer like slaves.
In preparation for the implementation of the EPS, since November 16, 2003, the South Korean government has been consistent in their policy of seeking out and deporting migrant workers who have been in South Korea for more than four years. This policy has resulted in the tragic deaths of nine migrant workers who chose death instead of returning to their home country. |
http://mostlywater.org/node/1104 |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| jaganath69 wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
Somewhere in the korean mind.... there must be some recognition, some admission of how racist their outlook is.
But then its all justified because foreigners invaded korea 900 times in history, and its payback time apparently. |
No. There is a refusal to meet foreigners as equals as there exists either a burning resentment towards those these perceive as better, or a mocking derision of those they believe they have surpassed. |
That�s more like it. Definitely an improvement on �Koreans think I�m a monkey� � the Pest2 school of thought. 
Koreans who resent white people, even though the Allies saved them from the Japanese and from Kim Il Seong, do so because they see us as seething with superiority, seeing ourselves as the ruling race of the world. Many folks of course actually do. People in all non-white countries do. Also, many Koreans hate whitey simply because we earn 2xper capita GDP. To us, the notion that a foreign person can come to our countries and earn more than us is no problem, but to a Korean on a pitiably low income, it�s horrifying. |
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shaunew
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Calgary
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Vicissitude wrote: |
| shaunew wrote: |
| We should all write our governments and local and national press. We have the proof in black and white now how we are treated. I'm writing to the PM in Canada as well as every premier of each province and all media outlets. It may not do something but it might. But if everyone does this then we can have more power in numbers. If 7 of the largest nations run this story then we can make change. |
You should post them on here before you send and maybe others can use them too. |
My wife and I are writing the letters. I plan on sending one to CNN as an Ireport. My wife will be sending letters to the human rights commission and the UN. We need to act this time. We have the proof what the Koreans think of us and with the latest news with pedophiles people will listen or at least take notice. My government would never release this total bullshit about Koreans or other foreigners. I wish they did the same to Koreans as Koreans do to us. |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Lies! |
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| Geckoman wrote: |
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| Some foreign brides married to Korean farmers have difficulty adjusting to a new life in an unfamiliar country, in some cases leading to dysfunctional families. |
That statement is so insulting. The problem is not the foreign brides having difficult adjusting to a new life in Korea, as they are well prepared to do that before coming to Korea to start a new life. The problem is the abusive Korean husbands that these women end up marrying who physically and psychological abuse them. So many of these women come here in search of a better life only to find abuse, domestic violence and hell. The problem is so big that the Vietnamese government -- Vietnam is a big source of where these foreign brides come from -- issues out warnings to its citizens and has brought up the issue with the Korean government.
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I thought that was offensive, as well (in additional to other items, such as the English hakwon teachers with questionable backgrounds, but that's already been addressed). The way it's written makes it seem like it the foreign brides fault. That commissioner needs to take a look at the IKSA site. I've only visited the discussion board a couple of times, but it's pretty depressing: one Philipino woman talked of her husband's impending death, and how the parents are getting all of his assets, etc. Others have faced major custody issues if a divorce ensues. And the law obviously doesn't favor the foreign spouse. |
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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:34 am Post subject: |
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Foreign Brides Embraced?!
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| SEOUL: Every month, hundreds of South Korean men fly to Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, Nepal and Uzbekistan on special trips. An agent escorts each man to see many women in a single day, sometimes all gathered in the same hall. Like a judge in a beauty pageant, the man interviews the women, many of them 20 years younger than he, and makes a choice. The trip, for "mail-order" brides, has long been a fixture of life in Asia�.The practice, which can involve profiteering, is so controversial that it is illegal in the Philippines. But it is increasingly a solution for thousands of Korean men every year who are desperate to find wives� Some civic groups and human rights groups in Korea have said that these speedily arranged marriages were tantamount to human trafficking, or "buying wives." � In South Korea, school textbooks still teach children to be proud of their racial purity. But government data depict a different picture: a country that is gradually transforming into a multiethnic society. Last year, the number of Koreans marrying foreigners rose 38 percent to 35,447, or 11 percent of the newlyweds that year. Most of these marriages involved Korean men and foreign women�To make matters worse, by 2012 in South Korea there will be 124 men for every 100 women in the age group of 24 to 30 - a result of rampant abortions of female fetuses in the 1980s. In time, men begin to look abroad for brides�The number of South Korean men marrying foreigners last year totaled 25,594, more than double from two years ago, according to the Korea National Statistical Office. Among foreign brides, Chinese topped the list at 18,527 last year, a 38 percent increase from 2003. Vietnamese brides were next, at 2,462, up 75 percent. Japanese, Filipinos and Mongolians followed at 1,224, 964 and 504, respectively. Korean society in general, however, still tends to consider the influx of foreign spouses "a crisis," rather than an "irreversible" force making South Korean families more diverse, said Yang Sung Eun, a professor in family studies at Chosun University in South Korea�"Men who come to our agency are mindful of the prejudices our society still holds against international marriages," said Lee Eun Tae, head of Inter Wed, a matchmaking agency�In the Roman Catholic Center for Philippine Migrants in Seoul, a dozen women were taking refuge, including a 19-year-old Filipino who wanted to use only her last name, Abon. When Abon first met her 38-year-old South Korean husband in the Philippines in December, she said, she believed in love at first sight. But by May, she said, her husband had threatened her with a knife and "boxed me because of sex." Lee Sang Rin, who runs a telephone hot line for abused women, said many women coming to South Korea were surprised when they realized their husbands were often a marginalized group - poor, handicapped and even mentally unstable. "The women don't speak the language. The cultural differences are a big challenge," said Juan Dayang Jr., a vice consul at the Philippines Embassy in Seoul. Some Korean husbands think they "bought" their brides and when not satisfied, ask their agents for "another chance," he said. |
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/23/news/brides.php?page=1 |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:28 am Post subject: |
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This has to be the most patronising and condescending piece of journalism I have seen regarding Korea and / or related problems. He couldn't be more disenfranchised with the problems and issues this country has if he tried.
And when the Dave's ESL apologist brigade is kept away you know its bad. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| Vicissitude wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| On an F5, I feel quite comfortable here. |
 I guess he didn't even bother to read the article. It has NOTHING to do with visas. What a jackass. |
So, the best you can do is call me names? Is that the extent of your skills?
You asked...
| Vicissitude wrote: |
| I just noticed this statement put out by Korea Immigration Service. In light of these new visa regulations, do you feel "embraced?" |
I answered that I feel comfortable here. I'm not on an E2 and am not at all worried about the changes in that visa.
And for me saying that, I get called names?
Check your PMs mate. If you've got something personal with me, I'm sure we can meet up and hash it out.
edit: as for the original statement quoted by the OP, I think it's right, there are a lot of people that come here and have troubles. Part is due to them, and part is due to the "environment" in Korea. The problem is, the article doesn't delve far enough into the latter. I'm surprised this has made it to so many pages. |
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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Vicissitude wrote: |
| I just noticed this statement put out by Korea Immigration Service. In light of these new visa regulations, do you feel "embraced?" |
I answered that I feel comfortable here. I'm not on an E2 and am not at all worried about the changes in that visa.
And for me saying that, I get called names?
Check your PMs mate. If you've got something personal with me, I'm sure we can meet up and hash it out.
edit: as for the original statement quoted by the OP, I think it's right, there are a lot of people that come here and have troubles. Part is due to them, and part is due to the "environment" in Korea. The problem is, the article doesn't delve far enough into the latter. I'm surprised this has made it to so many pages. |
Am I the only person who thinks Captain Corea is a trolling apologist?
Here's his PM to me today:
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feel like calling me names in person?
By all means, lets meet up then.
Do you live in Seoul?
We can go out for something (meaty) to eat as well
-Ed |
BTW, his "meaty" remark has to do with his staunch defense of eating dog meat. He loves it! |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Vicissitude wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Vicissitude wrote: |
| I just noticed this statement put out by Korea Immigration Service. In light of these new visa regulations, do you feel "embraced?" |
I answered that I feel comfortable here. I'm not on an E2 and am not at all worried about the changes in that visa.
And for me saying that, I get called names?
Check your PMs mate. If you've got something personal with me, I'm sure we can meet up and hash it out.
edit: as for the original statement quoted by the OP, I think it's right, there are a lot of people that come here and have troubles. Part is due to them, and part is due to the "environment" in Korea. The problem is, the article doesn't delve far enough into the latter. I'm surprised this has made it to so many pages. |
Am I the only person who thinks Captain Corea is a trolling apologist?
Here's his PM to me today:
| Quote: |
feel like calling me names in person?
By all means, lets meet up then.
Do you live in Seoul?
We can go out for something (meaty) to eat as well
-Ed |
BTW, his "meaty" remark has to do with his staunch defense of eating dog meat. He loves it! |
Wow, you can quote me, bold me, and even call me another name - yet you seem unable to discuss things with me.
Sad really.
As for me being an apologist, shoot, you really don't know me then. I've complained about tons of stuff on this board (and others). However, unlike you, I am often able to see two sides to an issue.
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I'll stand by what I said, the quote in your OP was not wholly incorrect, it just left out the other side. I'd write a letter to the man if I felt so inclined... but all this hubbabaloo about writing MPs back home kind of surprises me. Good luck to those who do, but I'd put 100won on it not making a difference.
Instead, perhaps a well worded letter to the author might help change things.
Edit:
| Vicissitude wrote: |
Here's his PM to me today:
| Quote: |
feel like calling me names in person?
By all means, lets meet up then.
Do you live in Seoul?
We can go out for something (meaty) to eat as well
-Ed |
BTW, his "meaty" remark has to do with his staunch defense of eating dog meat. He loves it! |
Yeah, silly me for asking you if you've got something personal against me. Or heck, even sillier to not want to clog up every thread on this board with that personal gripe.
I sent you that PM, and I wrote the offer here... no problem with that mate. If you're just wanting to stick with the internet warrior bit, calling me names and such hiding behind your keyboard, well then, I guess that's what you're going to do.
Me, I thought I'd try to work it out in person.. I find people much more accommodating that way. |
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jaykimf
Joined: 24 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:11 am Post subject: |
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| Hanson wrote: |
| It's not that bad of an article, actually. |
I agree with you, it's not that bad of an article. It seems to me that some posters are misreading it as "Korea has been a leader in embracing foreigners" instead of "Korea should be a leader in embracing foreigners". The guy is advocating for more acceptance and better treatment of foreigners. Some posters are jumping all over him for acknowledging that Korea has not done better but he is actually saying that Korea needs to do better in the future, writing: "We must resist any inclination to that effect and instead openly and actively embrace foreigners who choose to come to live, study, or work in Korea." and: "By gradually but steadfastly opening up to free human movement, Korea will not only find further economic prosperity, but also emerge as a leader among the world's liberal democracies in an important political issue."
It seems that Ya-ta Boy at least does not have a reading comprehension problem. |
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Grimalkin
Joined: 22 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: |
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I also think people are misreading the "leeching" and "ghettos" paragraphs but the problem is that they're so badly worded that they are ambiguous.
The writer also doesn't seem to realise how patronising and condescending he sounds while he's trying to be well intentioned but that is probably a lack of familiarity with the nuances of the English language.
A lot of the problem is though that we have had so much experience of being portrayed as overpaid, drug-fiend, womanising pariahs in this country by the Korean media that it's easy for us to read that into this article also even when it isn't intended.
It made me angry too to read it because he's just not saying strongly enough what needs to be said i. e. that Korea has benefitted a lot more from the presence of westerners in this country than it's acknowledging and is far too quick to blow out of all proprtion the negatives and it needs to reign in it's xenophobia in a big way! |
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