Korean Job Discussion Forums

[curtiscurtis]

If one was to suspect a possible situation of child abuse or sexual molestation what are the steps one should take in Korea? (specifically if a director or employee showed not much interest in the situation.)

[curtiscurtis]

also not suspected from any employee but rather in the household.

[OnTheOtherSide]

How about taking your fist to his face?

[poet13]

I think you're kind of damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Damned if you do, because everybody will deny it, and accuse you of being a sick *beep* for thinking it.

Damned if you don't, cause you may very well be right, and (I believe) you have a moral obligation to protect the children you are entrusted with.

I don't know what I would do cause I don't know what signs are making you suspicious.

[spliff]

Don't even think about it. Anyway, what makes you suspect?

[Benicio]

Basically, pretty much anyone you go to with this will tell you it's none of your business.

I don't want to discourage you from doing the right thing, but up until recently, most here have believed abuse(spouse & child) to be a private family matter- this includes the police. Spousal abuse wasn't even illegal until about 1999.
Most just pretend it doesn't happen- Ostrich Syndrome.

They especially do not want a foreigner to get involved as they don't want us to know about or have anything to do with these sort of "unpleasantries" as it doesn't make Korea look good.

I hate to say it, but speaking from experience, if a child is being abused in the home, as the foreign teacher there's not much you can do about it at all.
About the only successful intervention I have ever heard of was the woman who took the pictures of kids being made to stand naked outside of the school in the cold as punishment.
Nothing was done about it until the pictures and story made it to the internet and the authorities had to finally do something before it made it on the international news.

Sorry, but many here still treat abuse in the home as a private matter that is no one else's business, so you will probably get no help.

[poet13]

"About the only successful intervention I have ever heard of was the woman who took the pictures of kids being made to stand naked outside of the school in the cold as punishment. "

I hope this was a long time ago.

[Benicio]

It was this winter in Itaewon- big story!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Just make damn sure you have absolute proof before you do anything. Some kids act strange, especially worn out, stressed out, sleep-deprived Korean kids with absentee parents desperately wanting adult attention.

[Scotticus]