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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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mariealicia
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:04 am Post subject: I don't think I asked this question yet.. Korean orphan work |
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I would like to work/volunteer in a children's home/orphanage/whatever in Korea. I have many Korean friends who tell me I can easily get a job there (I have a Master's in International advertising from u. of florida)...
I'm wondering if age inhibits you? I'll be 23.... in September  I'm looking to to probably around that time.
I've heard from a few sources that it's difficult to even volunteer at these places.
Any info is welcomed.  |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Several of the teachers in my old school volunteered at an orphanage/halfway house for (I gathered very) retarded kids. I offered a couple times to go with them, but they never followed up. I got the feeling that they didn't really want me to go, but were too polite to say so.
Um, anyway. I guess that doesn't answer your question at all, but it is a bit of a story.
Last edited by Hater Depot on Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mariealicia
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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awesome....  |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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Marie Alicia, do you have the contact information?
The man you need to talk to is Ron Fowler at:
[email protected] |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I was looking into this just yesterday. But, then I remembered a while back that somebody said it was illegal to do volunteer work on an -2 visa.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Ilovebdt |
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BigBlackEquus
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Location: Lotte controls Asia with bad chocolate!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it is illegal to do volunteer work. Koreans are weird to us in the sense that:
1. The hagwon sponsoring you likely will not approve because their kids have to PAY to have you teach them. Not fair to the paying children, in their eyes.
2. Immigration says it is illegal to do ANY work -- paid or not -- without approval (if you get hagwon approval and do the paperwork at immigration, it might be OK).
3. Many Koreans, not all, just don't have the feelings of pity/wanting to help retarded kids or orphans unless they are directly related to their family.
In several years here, I have never heard of an orphanage being raided or having a problem. Worknplay's website regularly advertises teacher/orphanage visits, and they have had no problems. Anything could happen, though. |
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Blinky Bill
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Location: Jinju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I am currently doing volunteer work, twice a week, at a Welfare center in Jinju,Sth Korea. These centers are an alternative to volunteer work at an orphanage. I also applied to do volunteer work at an orphanage in Jinju, however, I was told that the children were too busy with other activities to fit me in. The welfare centers are established to assist low income famillies, or famillies where one or both of the parents are missing from the familly environment. The children generally are very good, however, there are some children who have social problems. Generally, I just play games, teach them some basic English etc. We also have volunteer Korean university students doing a Social Welfare course, who assist me when available. There are Welfare centres all over Korea, mostly in the poorer neighbourhoods. I hope this information is a help. |
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mariealicia
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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Wow thanks for the responses.
I've e-mailed people from Yheesun, but none of them emailed me back. I should try and e-mail Ron.
Like I said, I hear both sides of the story. Some say it's easy to volunteer in orphanages and their experiences were amazing.... others (more recently) tell me its difficult and their time caring for the children usually ends up to be some rudimentary English lesson.
Why can't I just care for some damn infants!? That's all I want to do! |
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kimchikowboy
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I got this mail today from a friend who used to do a lot of volunteer work here in Daegu. He's in Japan now.
I'm posting it here if anyone is interested.
| Quote: |
Hi you all!
I have some news
I'll be in Daegu from 23rd to December 29th ,like I mentioned in my previous email, there are 20 students from my university who are willing to do the following activities during our stay
Christmas Party on Sunday 25th- We are gonna perform some activities such as Traditional Japanese Dance + Salsa + Traditional games from Mongolia, Mexico, Japan + giving presents
From Monday 26th~Wednesday 28 we would like to have a Language Camp in some orphanages (English/Japanese/Spanish)
We would like to visit some Kindergardens, middle schools and high schools to introduce our countries in English
We are looking for a middle school or high school to introduce our cultures and have a Late Christmas party,so if any of you guys know any middle/high school English teacher who would like to have some foreign students to introduce their countries in English, please contact me.
Thanks a lot
Sincerely
Mariano |
If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll pass along any more info I get. |
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mariealicia
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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| awww kindergartners |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:20 am Post subject: |
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I volunteered at an orphanage in Kunsan twice a week for two years... I heard that it was illegal at one point and I half hoped I would get caught because what an amazing story that would make! Deported and/or fined for volunteering to teach and take care of the children no one else wanted! Seriously -- can you imagine the reaction from the public?
I honestly wouldn't let the legality issue get in your way, not if it is truly volunteer work. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| casey's moon wrote: |
| I volunteered at an orphanage in Kunsan twice a week for two years... I heard that it was illegal at one point and I half hoped I would get caught because what an amazing story that would make! Deported and/or fined for volunteering to teach and take care of the children no one else wanted! Seriously -- can you imagine the reaction from the public? |
Hm. I'll try.
The "Dave's public" would roll their eyes, scoff, become enraged, demand something be done, post up a storm, etc.
Net effect: zero
The "global public" would probably never know as the story wouldn't make international press copy, even if Immigration took the extreme step of deporting you.
Net effect: zero
The "Korean public"... difficult to say, but to the extent that it draws negative outside attention to the country (too many orphans who even wealthy Koreans won't adopt, "baby exports", generally third-worldish attitudes towards society's poor & needy, etc.), then I'd guess of those Koreans who would care at all, most would probably want the story and you hushed up.
Net effect: zero to potentially slightly negative for you (i.e., Immigration not willing to let you return) |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
The "Korean public"... difficult to say, but to the extent that it draws negative outside attention to the country (too many orphans who even wealthy Koreans won't adopt, "baby exports", generally third-worldish attitudes towards society's poor & needy, etc.), then I'd guess of those Koreans who would care at all, most would probably want the story and you hushed up.
Net effect: zero to potentially slightly negative for you (i.e., Immigration not willing to let you return) |
I actually find Koreans and the Korean media to be quite critical of themselves and have to disagree with you about wanting the story hushed up. Actually, it's another example of the contrasts that make Korea the confusing and exciting country that it is. Sandwiched between a story about the Korean wave and Korea's leaps and bounds in the cloning industry it's not that unusual to see a scathing report showing where some aspect of Korean society is seriously lacking compared to other countries.
It was major news in Canada when an immigrant (it was years ago and I can't remember where she was from) was deported for having a second job outside of her visa -- I know that doesn't make the news here in Korea, but surely getting deported for volunteering would shock people.
In other words, my dear Guru -- for once, I disagree with you.  |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| casey's moon wrote: |
I actually find Koreans and the Korean media to be quite critical of themselves and have to disagree with you about wanting the story hushed up. Actually, it's another example of the contrasts that make Korea the confusing and exciting country that it is. Sandwiched between a story about the Korean wave and Korea's leaps and bounds in the cloning industry it's not that unusual to see a scathing report showing where some aspect of Korean society is seriously lacking compared to other countries.
It was major news in Canada when an immigrant (it was years ago and I can't remember where she was from) was deported for having a second job outside of her visa -- I know that doesn't make the news here in Korea, but surely getting deported for volunteering would shock people.
In other words, my dear Guru -- for once, I disagree with you. |
I know that the Korean media will point the camera at embarrassing aspects of society. When it wants to. And it generally wants to in the context where Koreans are exposing and shaming each other, or foreigners/foreign companies -- not generally in an "international" context where, say, a young white woman stands at centre stage and in the starring role of victim/whistleblower.
The orphan issue, inextricably bound up as it is for many Koreans with the "baby exporter" national blemish, isn't merely embarrassing like, say, high pollution levels or corruption might be, but is one the most sensitive and painful topics for Koreans of any age. And I think that this is mainly due to the foreign angle, or rather the "foreigner" angle, and has much to do with the critique of late (and what seems to me a growing reassessment, ambivalence and even resentment among some Koreans toward) the whole phenomenon of international adoption, and specifically those foreign-based agencies that have always carried it out here.
As outlandish as are such comments as I've read and personally heard Koreans make on this subject (along the lines of accusing some adoptive parents of unspeakable acts against their adopted Korean children, and then by extension vilifying them all and the foreign-based adoption agencies), I am not so optimistic to think that these grim though fantastical beliefs, and the sentiments behind them, do not fall on a fair number of receptive ears at this juncture in Korean history.
To me, this issue really cannot be compared to the typical scandal fare of Korean TV news, such as society's neglect of the handicapped, mistreatment of foreign labourers, domestic violence, what have you. To bring up and shame the Koreans over the orphan issue, in any of its facets, seems to me to be prodding them where their "skin" is thinnest and most tender. With a foreigner -- and a Westerner no less -- at the helm, as it were, of such a high-profile shaming... I'm cringing here just trying to imagine how that would be regarded.
Then again, I am often overly cynical about these things, and I may well be about this one, too. (buckle my shoe) |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Guru, I see your point -- but to me that is just more reason to think that no one would ever be punished for doing that kind of volunteer work.
I guess it is a moot point for me now -- it is no longer illegal for me (I assume, since it isn't illegal for Korean nationals to volunteer, is it?)
But I would hate to think that E-2ers might be avoiding helping out these kids for fear of deportation. |
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