Korean Job Discussion Forums

bacasper · Joined: 26 Mar 2007

Kibbutzim have hagwons?

Korean kids on program in Israel left abandoned

August 12, 2010

About 70 Korean children were found abandoned in an Israeli kibbutz, according to a report there.

The incident, which happened last week, is raising concern among parents who are considering sending their children to programs overseas.

Locals found the children, aged 7 to 9, wandering in several groups around areas near the desert and seeking water, food and a place to sleep, the newspaper Maariv reported.

The locals fed the children and provided sleeping arrangements before reporting the case to the Korean Embassy in Israel, it said.

The paper said the children had been sent to Israel as part of a pilgrimage education program run by a Korean company, but the group ran into trouble because of mismanagement by the program�s operator.

The paper reported that the children came to Israel via Jordan and arrived at the kibbutz by bus. The Korean children�s guide, who had only provided them with camping equipment and basic necessities, sent them off on their own, saying they would be welcomed at any kibbutz.

A kibbutz official told the newspaper that it is incomprehensible how the Korean children could have been delivered to the area under the care of guides who knew neither English nor Hebrew.

A government source confirmed the case. A travel agency the children used for the program denied responsibility, saying it was only in charge of buying plane tickets for them.

Kikomom · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject:

Holy moly! If this is true...

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Haha I can so see this. The operator probably wanted a trip to Israel so set up a scam to send kids on an adventurous trip. Except when people started paying the money and preparing, he couldn't back out. Had to wait til he got to Israel and could dump the kids. There are books and movies made about stuff like this!

makemischief · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Location: Traveling

My Korean friend read the article (Korean version)- not even 7-9 years old in the western sense, but 7-9 Korean age. D@MN. So kids aged 5-8 camping in a country they've never been to with no parents and one poorly prepared guide sounded like a good idea? I'd love to see what the actual sales pitch was on that.

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

supernick · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

A kibbutz official told the newspaper that it is incomprehensible how the Korean children could have been delivered to the area under the care of guides who knew neither English nor Hebrew.

If this guy knew anything about Korea, he wold soon learn that these this are in fact comprehensible. At first I was shocked by this but now I am mostly amused.

I sure do feel sorry for the kids, but why would the parents allow their young children to go?

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Kikomom · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:16 am Post subject:

I have to wonder too if these kids had ever been camping before? Did any of them even know how to pitch a tent?

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

Quote:

Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:14 am Post subject: Re: 70 Korean kids abandoned in kibbutz

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Quote:
but the group ran into trouble because of mismanagement by the program�s operator.

OMG, I think I used to work for this guy!

(actually, most of probably have at one time or another)

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Hmm...last time I went walking through the Negev desert, I had a guide and a body guard armed with a machine gun. Shocked

These kids could have ended up in a bad predicament.

By the way, 'kibbutzim' is the plural of 'kibbutz'.