Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

So today I was called into the principals office for my weekly meeting with him.

Anyway he gives me this document from the gyeonggi do education office on dokdo. It basically outlined the korean position on it. The thing had a very biased line not much debate, just japan is evil blah blah. So I was mroe than surprised to see that in coming out of a public education office. Then basically he told me that dokdo is korea's and the sea between japan and korea is the east sea. He was upset to be told that we got taught in schools that it was the sea of japan.

I was somewhat taken a back by this. First up that such a document came out of a public education office and secondly that I had to get a lecture on it. My classes rarely talk about current events as I stay well clear of them due to my students low level of english.

Anyone else have any Dokdo related weirdness?

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I don't know about Dokdo, but Korea seems to be the only country that calls that water the "East Sea."

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

My students keep asking me what I think about Dokdo...sometimes I say, "You mean Takeshima?" It provides me with some entertainment.

And they say NO NO NO!!!!! And I tell them later that I am only kidding. I do think it belongs to Korea, not sure why, since I know nothing of the history.....maybe because I am used to having to agree with them all the time about crap like this. Don't want to make any one cry! I did tell them that the guy who lit himself on fire was silly...since he is, and once this blows over, he will regret it I am sure. Same goes for the buddy who chopped off his finger(s). I mean there is protesting, and then there's CRAZY!!!!!

But I am getting tired of hearing about it. And yesterday when I asked them if they felt anything from the earthquake in Japan...well I got an ear full about how Japan deserved it b/c of Dokdo. I have heard from different people here the same saying about how they hope Japan sinks under the water. This saying must be plastered on some site, or on TV.....it just won't go away. Shocked

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

If you work for the Korean government you should accept its position, or at least pretend to. It is not an internal political manner, it is a matter of history. I think it is important for foreigners here to see this so they don't antagonize their students. This is not a funny situation. I was asked last night if the U.S. would support Korea in a war against Japan. I am sure the majority are not considering war, but it is not a laughing manner.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

I don't see why the word Takeshima should be taboo...Koreans have their own name for Tsushima, after all.

trigger123 · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:45 am Post subject:

i'm with gnd on this one.
i too recieved the document from my school, and although i knew it was hardly going to present a balanced point of view, it was good idea to read it.
current affairs are not outside of our brief. you think we can exist in our nice little efl bubble forever and a day? no i'm sorry, the gyeonggi board are trying to inform its staff, ableit in a biased fashion, which has to be a good thing.
nod your head, state that dokdo is korea's, the east sea is in fact the east sea and kimchi can bring the dead back to life for crying out loud... but then go and find out for yourself if its true.

crazylemongirl wrote:

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

On the S of J...I tell students it's the S of J...not the East Sea because it's NOT east of Japan...it's west of Japan.
Find a new name where BOTH countries can benefit...until then...it's the S of J. Say's who? Says ME!

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

I completely agree with CLG on this....

There is no reason for her to be lectured on such a matter, for reasons that she already made very clear above....

The principal has no right to push his beliefs on CLG.....I think it is completely and utterly ridiculous. However, in Korea, such behaviour is the norm(doesn't mean we have to accept it).

They are taking this too far.....to the point where I don't even want to talk about the issue at all with Koreans.

All people are entitled to have their own opinions and beliefs, but they should not be forced on someone.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Unfortunately, esl teachers here make handy international representatives to vent their nationalistic complexes on..

mithridates · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:52 am Post subject:

If you were Canadian you could have also spent a few minutes getting the director to agree on the position that Hans Island is most definately Canada's, and not Denmark's. Every time he brings up Dokdo talk about Hans Island as well.
"Dokdo belongs to Korea and no one can take it."
"I know exactly how you feel. I feel the same way about Hans Island. I hope you know about Hans Island because I really want your support too in this matter. It's ours, you know."

And if you're Australian: