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Airborne9
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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I know a couple of people who are volunteering with 'International' NGOs some with the same type of aspiration as yourself. I dont know if it would be any use to you (or them for that matter) But maybe something else to look into while you are here.
good luck with it. |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Just what the world needs, another useless "community organiser". |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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PedroTaves,
Welcome to one of the unhappiest places on the internet!!
I see you've received a rather typical Dave's Korean Job board welcome.
All kidding aside, I think the couple of posts regarding political activity above are well advised.
Still I wouldn't count other things out that may be less directly political but still valuable. Why not volunteer a day a week with refugees from N. Korea? I haven't found it yet but there was an Amnesty International group in Korea and there are various community groups that represent Filippinos etc..in issues around the country. You'd have to be careful in checking out what's kosher here or not but something not directly political may really make things more interesting. Maybe there are discussion groups on some Korean campuses on issues of interest? I've hear the Asia society has lectures in Seoul a few times year as well.
I realize you're looking for something a little further up the food chain in organizational terms but maybe one of these easier-to-enter ideas could lead to something else? Apologies on not having anything more specific.
Best wishes on the hunt.
tideout |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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What the OP is looking for is not impossible in South Korea. I had an American classmate in my Korean classes who had a part-time internship with a pro-free trade think tank in Seoul. From what he told me they considered his help as a native speaker quite valuable for editing and dictation work, and he helped their staff with their English. While he did speak a fair bit of Korean, they were more interested in him as a politically savvy native speaker than for his Korean abilities.
The contacts he made there even helped him get a job in the Bush administration Department of Energy when he left Korea.
Unfortunately, PetroTaves, I don't remember the name of the institute. However, if you find any think tanks in Korea that you'd be interested in working with, it couldn't hurt to call or send them an email. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| Airborne9 wrote: |
I know a couple of people who are volunteering with 'International' NGOs some with the same type of aspiration as yourself. I dont know if it would be any use to you (or them for that matter) But maybe something else to look into while you are here.
good luck with it. |
You can debate as to whether NGO's are political. They are to some degree but that's as politically involved as I would get in Korea. I would consider myself a politically involved person back home, and in a way that's the best thing about being in Korea - I have absolutely no interest in Korean politics - not because I don't care, but because I don't think it's my place to be involved in politics here. The only thing that concerns me in Korea is human rights. I trust Korean people to defend human rights to some degree. To the degree they don't, I'd support those Koreans that do. Am I the only waygook that feels this way? |
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tideout
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| pegasus64128 wrote: |
| Airborne9 wrote: |
I know a couple of people who are volunteering with 'International' NGOs some with the same type of aspiration as yourself. I dont know if it would be any use to you (or them for that matter) But maybe something else to look into while you are here.
good luck with it. |
You can debate as to whether NGO's are political. They are to some degree but that's as politically involved as I would get in Korea. I would consider myself a politically involved person back home, and in a way that's the best thing about being in Korea - I have absolutely no interest in Korean politics - not because I don't care, but because I don't think it's my place to be involved in politics here. The only thing that concerns me in Korea is human rights. I trust Korean people to defend human rights to some degree. To the degree they don't, I'd support those Koreans that do. Am I the only waygook that feels this way? |
If I understand you correctly and I think I do, i would put myself in that camp.
I've done some reading on the politics here but most of what I read might be termed a bit more "international" vs. "domestic" politics ie. SK vis a vis China, natural resources issues etc.. But I have my hands full understanding my co-worker when working with the 5th graders  let alone Korean internal politics.
Aside from the legal ramifications, I'd have a hard time relating to local issues. I'd be far more likely to donate money or volunteer with an organization that supported Fillipino workers in Korea for example.
Just curious though, are you saying a lot of waygooks are involved in someway with Korean politics? I've never heard much interest amongst the ESL teachers I've known. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| tideout wrote: |
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Just curious though, are you saying a lot of waygooks are involved in someway with Korean politics? I've never heard much interest amongst the ESL teachers I've known. |
I agree with what you say about NGO's. Re: waygooks in politics. I don't know anyone that is actively involved politically in Korea personally. I've met quite a few teachers that have views on Korea that I see as being more political - Korean immigration policy, and race discrimination etc. The way I see it, it is what it is. I may not like it but I have no intention to even touch the issue. I'm a Westerner. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. & it's not my country. These people are not my people. |
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