Korean Job Discussion Forums

[man of the year]

[Rock]

University jobs are great but it depends on what level university you work for in Korea. The students in the lower levels, or a low ranked school, are often lame at learning English, monotonous to teach and a waste of time. Half the time they skip class, but you're really not allowed to hold this against them. Moreover, you can't even give some a 'D.' They all must pass, which made me dishonest.

It made me feel too, while working at one such univeristy, that I was just taking their money.

I'd rather teach, give something in return. Besides, I really don't think anyone here is qualified to be a professor, and it made me feel oh, so fake.

[tommynomad]

I too, would appreciate a pm from Kyrei and Scott_in. It's almost time to renegociate my contract, adn a good example held up is one my uni might follow, as they've always taken an interest in improving our comfort/happiness level.

[TECO]

[Real Reality]

E-1 Status (Professors)
* In the case of a national or a public university, a foreigner is not permitted to be a full-time professor.
[Republic of Korea] Ministry of Justice, Immigration Bureau
http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/ENG/eng_03/eng_306030.jsp

Corrupt professors common, students say
Following yesterday's allegation that a professor at Seoul National University misappropriated research grant funds, a number of graduate assistants across Korea have come forward with similar charges about professors.

A graduate student at Seoul National University's College of Engineering said that over the past three years, he has received only half of the money he was supposed to have been paid for his research projects, with the rest going into his professor's pockets. "Student bank accounts became dummy accounts for professors," the student said. Many students say they decided not to become whistleblowers for fear of jeopardizing their academic futures. A Korea University professor who embezzled more than 300 million won last year was only fined 20 million won, and was not punished by the school.
by Baek Il-hyun and Kim Ho-jeong, JoongAng Daily (April 28, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200504/27/200504272214239309900090409041.html

Professors Cheat to Maintain SCI Scores
A professor of engineering said it was common for there to be up to ten co-authors on a paper, most of whom have had nothing to do with it. A Professor Jeong at "C" University published some 20 international and 30 domestic papers during last year alone, an average of around one a week, while a professor Kang at "D" University aged more than 50, concluded a secret agreement with a newly appointed professor to have his name added to papers in exchange for hiring him as opposed to other candidates. Last year, Professor Han at "E" University who had failed to be promoted managed to do so after his name was appended to his student's paper.
by Choi Won-seok, Chosun Ilbo (April 25, 2002)
http://www.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200204/200204251020.html

A Professor Beat Students Who Didn't Speak English
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2002091152368

Foreign scholars merit equal status
...foreign professors do most of the heavy lifting in terms of course loads, devoting themselves almost exclusively to teaching. Nevertheless, they tend to be treated as hired hands, without academic standing, and lacking the possibility of career advancement or tenure. They must submit to yearly contracts (compensated at a rate only 60 percent of their Korean peers) while walled off from the permanent Korean faculty who benefit from travel, research funding, sabbaticals, etc. Moreover, when hundreds of Korean scholars enjoy such perks at American and other foreign universities, something is obviously amiss.
John B. Kotch, JoongAng Ilbo (June 14, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html