Korean Job Discussion Forums

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

so have at it - should someone be deported for teaching English?

should they be put in jail?

is it that serious to do so without proper permission?

most (if not all?) of us are aware of the necessities for having proper visas in Korea if one wants to teach an extra job or part time or just tutor.

what do you think about this? seriously, if one person has one kind of visa because they are married to a Korean and another person perhaps has a tourist visa, or an E-2, but wants to tutor someone, anyone, is this a serious enough offense to warrant deportation? incarceration?

I will gather the best comments and incorporate them into an article I'm researching for publication.

The Grumpy Senator · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: Up and down the 6 line

It is not soley an issue of what visa you have. Any income (from providing a service or good) not reported to the government is illegal income in just about any country. While the visa status may influence the punishment, it does not make private lessons OK for one and not another.

Any government wants their share of income (tax). An F2 visa does not give you free reign to have private lessons. It does however, allow you to set up a private tutoring "business" in addition to your main job; with all income reported to the tax athorities.

Moosehead, with your history of slanted views, please try to be objective as possible in this article. Already, you are making it sound like Korea throws people in jail for teaching English. That is not the case and you know it.

chickenpie · Joined: 24 Dec 2008

I you break VISA laws in the UK you get deported, don't see why that should be any different here. Jail seems excessive.

MissT · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: Korea

I think that Korean immigration has every right to deport people who do not have work visas. In our home countries doesn't immigration there do the same? People should take the proper steps to get an E2 in order to teach English.
Teaching privates on top of an E2 is a bit of a grey area for me. I don't do them because they're illegal, but the visa regulations regarding this seem to be a bit harsh. There should be a way to apply, pay a fee, to get some sort of certificate to teach private lessons for those who want to. I think the govt could make money if they actually taxed private lessons. I would even consider doing them if there was some sort of legal route to do this.

Jeff's Cigarettes · Joined: 27 Mar 2007

I imagine the Hagwon owners lobbied for that law. But, since it is the law, I have zero sympathy for anyone that gets caught breaking it. That being said, yes, I teach many illegal privates. Being against the law make it more exciting. Foiling building guards is a special aptitude of mine. Wink

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

I'd say "no" on the jail time, but deportation and a fine is reasonable.

Governments have a right to tax income, and to regulate what kind of work is done inside their country.

I think it's more reasonable to let private lessons be legal, if you are hired through a part-time private tutoring company that reports income for tax purposes, instead of a ban on privates for E2's.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I'd go with jail and deportation. People are aware that is the law and they still do it despite the law. Every once in awhile there is a crack down and people get caught. You can't say they don't get warned (especially if they read Dave's ESL). It has nothing to do with the visa, it has to do with the laws. In any country, if you break the law, you risk getting your *** thrown in jail. Personally, I wouldn't even want to know what the jails here look like.

Perceptioncheck · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

crosbystillsstash · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

Kimsmith · Joined: 26 May 2008 Location: The holographic Universe

it's not actually legal in Japan either, but is tolerated.

Perceptioncheck · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

When someone comes to a country as a guest...and breaks the law...of course they should be deported! It's not your country.
In your home county....I am sure the same would also happen.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

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

ontheway · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:48 am Post subject:

You should check to see, but I think this rule applies to all work visas in Korea. It has nothing to do with hogwans and hogwan owners. It was, in fact, the same back when all private tutoring outside of school and all hogwans, with foreign or Korean teachers, were illegal.

Foreigners are admitted on a work visa and may only work for the business that sponsored their visa at the address of the employer.

It might seem to be goofy and unfair for teachers, but doesn't this rule apply across the board for all jobs and all workers not on F visas?

Sure, we can imagine a perfect world where there are no countries and no borders and people can come and go and teach and work and live and breathe free ... but that ain't this world and that ain't Korea ...