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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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 Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:48 am Post subject: There are many people teaching illegally here |
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I'm not a journalist, but, I find it strange that the author would include what I have bold below:
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By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
John Gardner (an alias) has illegally worked at a college and several private language academies in Korea over the past five years.
Although the Canadian didn't have a bachelor's degree, required for an E-2 or English-teaching visa here, he came and started work at Baekseok University in Cheonan on a tourist visa.
"The school staff said it was fine and they would be able to supply me with a visa through their connections," he told The Korea Times.
However, he didn't receive an E-2 visa or his salary for several months, before being dismissed.
"When I went to the university, they told me that if I kept coming back, they would call the police. This left me in a strange situation. I wasn't able to go to the police, and I wasn't able to push the issue legally, because of my illegal status," he said.
He left the university and continued to teach English illegally at private institutes and corporations in Seoul and nearby cities. Many foreigners who come here to teach English are in similar situations.
According to the Korea Immigration Office, Friday, the number of "illegal" foreign private tutors arrested rose to 226 last year, compared to 211 in 2008, 172 in 2007 and 143 in 2006.
Among those arrested in 2009, Americans made up the largest portion with 79, followed by 36 Canadians and 31 Filipinos.
Of those caught, 144 were illegally hired, while 45 violated employment regulations. Also, 93 were E-2 visa holders, while 68 came here on D-2 or student visas and the rest were on tourist visas.
Eleven illegal teachers were deported and 42 were ordered to leave the country, while 68 were reported to the police. However, the immigration authorities say that the statistics show only a small number of the total illegal language teachers.
"We crack down from time to time on illegal foreigner teachers on tips from citizens, but it is very difficult to search out the large number of foreigners involved in irregularities," an immigration office told The Korea Times.
[email protected]
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According to his numbers, 226 people out of almost 30,000 teachers in Korea (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/01/123_59809.html) are working illegally. That equates to .75% of the total teaching population. You are going to tell me that warrants the use of the word "many"? It seems more of his/her opinion than fact. |
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ldh2222
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Well, "many" in that situation, is different than "most". The presumed, in similar situations, "many" could be 1,000, which isn't most of the 30,000+... so it still holds up... and sadly/not sadly, I agree that "many" people are tutoring illegally (according to Korean law).
I just don't think that the proper authorities have a good enough deterrent for those who are found out. If you wanna speak out and mail the writer, (which I don't think many people would do), be up in arms for punishing the employers/people who hire these "illegal" teachers! (as well as the tutors themselves) |
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i
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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| I used to work with a guy who had a xeroxed diploma with his name placed over the original recipients name. But I think those days are over. Nice enough guy. Was in his 50's. Just never got his degree finished. With people holding Masters and PHD's, he was probably more capable than most, including me. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:10 am Post subject: |
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What's interesting is how it's the foreign folks doing the illegal work but never is there an article about the local people doing the hiring. A Korean university (presumably a bastion of education set to lead young Koreans) knowingly hires a teacher without a degree and the author doesn't bat an eyelash...this is somehow a foreign teachers issue.
There is a strange focus in Korea on the illegal teacher yet very rarely are those responsible for it and profiting most from it ever mentioned. |
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chuckster
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:12 am Post subject: Re: There are many people teaching illegally here |
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[/quote]
According to his numbers, 226 people out of almost 30,000 teachers in Korea (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/01/123_59809.html) are working illegally. That equates to .75% of the total teaching population. You are going to tell me that warrants the use of the word "many"? It seems more of his/her opinion than fact.[/quote]
Um.. 226 is the number caught, not the number of illegal teachers. I obviously don't have exact statistics, but there's no way the police/immigration catch EVERY "illegal" teacher. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:58 am Post subject: |
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Well, I've got to run to keep from hidin',
And I'm bound to keep on ridin'.
And I've got one more silver dollar,
But I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no,
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider.
And I don't own the clothes I'm wearing,
And the road goes on forever,
And I've got one more silver dollar,
But I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider.
And I've gone by the point of caring,
Some old bed I'll soon be sharing,
And I've got one more silver dollar,
But I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider.
No, I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider.
No, I'm not gonna let 'em catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider. |
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GENO123
Joined: 28 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| better than Hogwons |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Australia used to have this problem until they introduced fines and penalties for employers who hire illegals. Cleared it up almost overnight. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ldh2222 wrote: |
Well, "many" in that situation, is different than "most". The presumed, in similar situations, "many" could be 1,000, which isn't most of the 30,000+... so it still holds up... and sadly/not sadly, I agree that "many" people are tutoring illegally (according to Korean law).
I just don't think that the proper authorities have a good enough deterrent for those who are found out. If you wanna speak out and mail the writer, (which I don't think many people would do), be up in arms for punishing the employers/people who hire these "illegal" teachers! (as well as the tutors themselves) |
I guess many is relative because when I see it in that particular context, I assume many will be a good portion of the 30,000 and while I know that those are the only ones arrested, I also know that a lot of foreigners still cash in on the side. Still, I think it's poor journalism to insert what seems to be the journalist's position. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong. |
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SanchoPanza
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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I have been in Korea since the mid nineties and I have always taught
illegally. The first the hagwon I worked at would send me out to schools
and businesses. Then I figured, why let the hagwon make the real money
so I removed the middleman and have been at it ever since. I had an
E2 way back then, but with all the new crap they want now, there is no
way I will ever be legal again. Jumping through hoops to make Koreans
rich? Fine if you want to. I call it being a sucker. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| nautilus wrote: |
| Australia used to have this problem until they introduced fines and penalties for employers who hire illegals. Cleared it up almost overnight. |
Ha. But Korea wouldn't enforce it, or would selectively enforce it against those who failed to provide the proper white envelope to the right person. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| The author, Kang Who-shin, is the guy who has earned the reputation in some expat circles as "Korea's worst journalist." |
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Satchel Paige
Joined: 29 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| earthbound14 wrote: |
| There is a strange focus in Korea on the illegal teacher yet very rarely are those responsible for it and profiting most from it ever mentioned. |
It's called nationalism and playing-the-victim card. You live in South Korea, remember? |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| SanchoPanza wrote: |
I have been in Korea since the mid nineties and I have always taught
illegally. The first the hagwon I worked at would send me out to schools
and businesses. Then I figured, why let the hagwon make the real money
so I removed the middleman and have been at it ever since. I had an
E2 way back then, but with all the new crap they want now, there is no
way I will ever be legal again. Jumping through hoops to make Koreans
rich? Fine if you want to. I call it being a sucker. |
...and you come on to an internet forum to brag of illegal activity?
...yes, yes, we all understand how cool you must be in your world.  |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| nautilus wrote: |
| Australia used to have this problem until they introduced fines and penalties for employers who hire illegals. Cleared it up almost overnight. |
That would work in Korea with REAL enforcement. |
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