Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FlagWaver]

I saw what Imbroglio wrote about protesting about the visa debit card changes and I wonder if the expat community in Korea could ever work together to bring about change?

Are we even allowed to protest in Korea?

This is a test thread to see if we can generate enough interest to form a protest/march in the capital city. I think we'd need a few months to organize, get letters out to all the local & international media outlets detailing our complaints, etc. and get people together for a few meetings before the actual march.



Do you think we have the power to change things? (ATM card thing -shady ESL practices, them owning the visa vs. you owning the visa, not paying, breaking contracts, etc)

[laogaiguk]

[Homer]

The idea has merit.

The reality might make it impossible as lao pointed out you would need for this march to be 100% peaceful and organized in such a way that the message would reach the government in the way you want.

Any deviation from this and the march would basically work against the idea being put forth.

You want a safer and effective method?

Start a petition and gather signature for an official document sent to the government.

[ThePoet]

I would sign a petition, and the KOTESOL conference is coming up:

The KOTESOL International Conference will take place on October 28-29. It will be held at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul.

That might be a great place to get a bunch of signatures. But lets also not forget that this is also affecting the factory workers. perhaps they could be convinced to sign a petition and work toward a large number of signees as well.

Poet

[Imbroglio]

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

[Homer]

Not a bad idea at all Poet.

OP..if you start a petition..let me know.

[jaganath69]

A protest would do nothing, sorry to say. I would be in favour of a targetted letter writing and lobbying campaign instead.

[mithridates]

The campaign would work better if it were to involve Koreans that are affected by the law too. Non-resident Koreans apparently can't get these cards either, or so the bank told me when I visited there to ask. I also heard from them at the times that the law was passed a number of years ago but they were quite loath to enforce it until recently when they were told to hurry up and start putting it into action. I had the employee copy out the law itself for reference but that was early summer and I can't remember where I put it.

[Novernae]

According to the Korean Criminal code it is illegal for foreigners to participate in any demonstartions, political protests, etc... Not that that means we shouldn't

[Imbroglio]

Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

[inkoreaforgood]

[SPINOZA]

I say letting foreigners protest outside City Halls and stuff about the rights and priveleges they believe they should have is a western thing. You'd get laughed at in Korea and frankly I'd be amongst those having a chuckle. You'd get viewed like Muslims get viewed in the west, holding up their banners at the latest outrage. That's what some of you lot are like - fanatics, constantly raging against something. You're in a different culture. Korea has some way to go before we can enjoy all the things we take for granted in London and New York, which have had centuries of wealth and multiculturalism to get it right. Be patient.

[laogaiguk]

[Novernae]

[gang ah jee]

A protest has the potential to make an impact provided that there are associated suicides and mutilations to demonstrate the depth of the pain that banking and immigration policies are causing.

Any volunteers for the suicide?