Korean Job Discussion Forums

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

I just finished reading the thread about the Canadian who received a 6m jail sentence. I was struck by how strong the opinions of many were regarding the issue of illegal teachers. I am curious, would any of you report an illegal teacher?

As someone who plans to live here for an extented period of time, I have to confess that they do anger me. I get particularily upset with the girl/boy friend of legal teachers who teach under the table. I know of one such person in my home city who teaches privates for 15,000/hour. Talk about driving down the pay.

And that is what it comes down to for me; money. I posses an F visa and a private teachers licence (yes, I do declare ALL my income) so the scale of pay is very important to me. I am here long term and work very hard to provide for my family, so when illegal teachers work for less, I feel they are hitting me in my wallet. However, saying this, I just can't see myself reporting someone to the government, regardless of how much they bother me.

As a Canadian, I know it is my fellow Canucks who are the most guilty of this as they are given a 6m tourist visa.

Again, would any of you report an illegal teacher?

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I would only if I wanted revenge for some reason.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Only if I wanted their job.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

In a heartbeat. That is if they are doing it knowingly. If they're doing something illegal that they're unaware of, I'd tell them first and give them a chance to get straight. If they didn't, i'd report them with no qualms.

KPRROK

Masta_Don · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

If I started seeing millions of illegal teachers flooding the market and making my profession worthless then, yes. I would start snitching on them.

But, I've been in Korea for 7 years and I only met one foreigner who confessed to working without an E-2. But, when I met him, he was on his way to Japan to get his E-2!!

I'm not sure how big a problem it is.

I certainly don't trust the Korean media when they go out to find illegal teachers and put them on TV like its an epidemic.

bosintang · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

I don't agree with them, but it's not my business to get involved.

rocklee · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul

Depends, if he's a real asshole then by all means.

But if he's a good guy I would look the other way. No need to make someone's life miserable.

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

no way. Unless he was a REAL *beep* or really stupid about it.

I know people teaching here illegally and I know people teaching privates. If I wanted to, I could turn them all in. But I know that most of them are bang up people and I've seen a couple of them teacher; they are all passionate about it. I prefer that over some monkey cowboy qualified idiot.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

It is in a teacher's general economic interest to turn somebody in. But I think to do so would be so greedy and meanspirited as to be immoral.

I think visa laws are based on expediency and generality. In general, people with college degrees are better teachers than those without. But we all know there are myriad exceptions to this. Would you try to get a visa holding teacher kicked out for being just a totally terrible teacher? That would be more justified, but even that would be harsh.

The only way I'd do it is if there was some other reason involved, like the person had seriously wronged me but I was too afraid to confront them.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Don't let me know about it. I would report it in a heartbeat.

I refuse to abide by a double standard. I will stand on the moral high ground.

If you don't like the rules, then lobby for change.

If they change the laws then fill your boots and have at 'er. Work your azz off.

Until then, follow the rules or pay the piper and I don't care if it is illegal teaching, running red lights or forgetting to pay your taxes. Getting caught is the cost of doing an illegal business.

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

As for me...in the past I have let it slide, but I realize that I am not doing myself or any of the other legal teachers here a favor. Seriously whether a guy is a great teacher or not is not the issue. If a degree is the mimimum standard...then that's what it should be.

As for the people saying "Oh let it slide", fine. Just don't ever complain about not getting respect from Koreans or having Koreans think YOU have a fake degree, OR for that matter complain about Koreans having an illegal degree. Because that's what this attitude leads to.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

behindtheveil · Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Location: Gimpo

Is there a monetary reward for turning in illegal teachers? Not talking about the effect it has on the market.