Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mmarshalynne]

There is a great deal of talk on this website about taking on privates. I have always had difficulty in life understanding people who commit criminal acts for profit motives. Generally, people commit multiple petty offenses to make a buck, and one arrest wipes out all of the profits they think they have made with their dishonesty. In contrast, I have seen people on this forum suggest that individuals who would not take on privates have no real work ethic.

In my mind, a law which criminalizes working outside of the school who sponsored your visa is administrative in nature. Thus, I don't see it as a great moral issue; however, the possible penalties that could be faced persuades me that taking on privates is foolish. How do you see the issue?

[ttompatz]

Personally, it makes me wonder why would an otherwise honest person go to another country and knowingly and willingly commit a crime in said country - just because the action would not be considered a crime in your own country?

It does say something about a person's morals - especially when they come here and complain that they cannot have the rule of law enforced when their employer breaks the rules - pot calling the kettle black.

I will take the moral high ground here (and for the record, I do not do "personals" either.)

.

[VanIslander]

I have respect for the law; I walk with my head up; I have no fear of the authorities; I do an honest day's work; I sleep well at night.

There are less law abiding, greater risk taking individuals who are fleet of foot, money-hungry at heart and have a thousand words to back up their actions.

It depends on how you are built.

[Draz]

I'm not known for my high morals when it comes to victimless crimes, but I'm too busy/can't be bothered to teach privates. It sounds like a big fat risky pain. Not worth it.

That guy was trolling when he said to "just work more" btw.

[cdninkorea]

I'm with Draz.

A act which is victimless should not be illegal. I would and do break victimless crimes in my home country too when it suits me.

At the moment I do not teach private lessons, but in answer to your question: yes, this particular "crime" does pay, and it pays well.

The ethics of private lessons have been discussed in other threads a great deal, so I won't elaborate on it anymore.

[PeteJB]

I think the laws against privates here are quite pathetic, but that doesn't jar me anywhere near as much as the rules for students. Most of us here on the short term renewable student visas cannot work legally part-time, and I find that so very disgusting.

[ttompatz]

[EzeWong]

I don't do privates but let me give you this nugget to bite on:

Just because it's unlawful doesn't mean it's morally wrong.

A law can be made for financial regulations, greed, or protection of the people.

For the most part laws are ethical, but if they aren't directly hurting anyone, should you have qualms about it?

[itaewonguy]

Everyone has broken the law in some way or another!
For financial gain? Well what�s the difference! The laws the laws
You break it you break it... I guess people see privates like telling a white lie!
Who benefits from privates? EVERYONE involved...

Look go ask the pojuangmacha ajuma how do you sleep at night knowing you a breaking the law every night feeding toppoki to hundreds of people?

Privates are not drugs! It doesn�t destroy people�s lives! It only enhances it.
Now if doing privates was a serious criminal offence which resulted in death or long term prison... then HELL NO! I would never do it...
But it aint is it...
I mean if I could I would open a pojangmacha, they are raking in dollars!

[jkelly80]

Rule of law? Where? In Korea? Really?

Rule of law is an insult to Confucian ideals of interpersonal relationships and the dominance of old men over all other forms of life.

[tfunk]

[mmarshalynne]

The topic was a hook. I stand by my position that taking on privates is not a crime of moral turpitude, and I don't judge other people who make such a decision as being morally inferior. I tend not to be a judgmental person anyway.

On the other hand, the possible penalties are so costly and severe it is hard for me to understand why so many people do it. People talk about it very casually when you are meeting them for the first time. If I was doing it, I would be looking over my shoulder. I wonder what actual thought is given to the consequences, or whether people who do it tend just to have the mind set that getting caught is "never going to happen to me."

Do they think about going to jail and the degradation and humiliation? Do they think about attorneys� fees, fines, etc? Do they think about losing their job?

[jkelly80]

I would think most do a cost benefit analysis, and find the benefit outweighs the cost, like most things in life. Keep your head down and don't tell tales out of school, as it were, and you're OK.

[Faunaki]

I can't understand people who have qualms with privates. All the friends I've had here have done them and everyone back home who lived here before did them. That's one of the perks of teaching ESL. Let's remember that 2.5 is not a lot of money especially with today's exchange. Can anyone honestly say they are happy making 2.5/1800$ a month?

1800 times 12 = poverty line or lower.

No thanks.

[crusher_of_heads]

I can vouch for Cohiba here-Cohiba won't be doing any privates, because privates are illegal.

I don't do privates, even though I have no moral qualms for those who do them-the law prohibiting them is designed to line the pockets of THIEVING DEGENERATE HOGWAN OWNERS WHO FIRE EMPLOYEES AFTER 11 MONTHS. ANY MONEY THAT GOES INTO THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF THESE THIEVING SCUMBAGS IS MONEY WELL SPENT BY THOSE WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH SPEAKING ABILITY.