Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'm just wondering from teachers who have been at a school for a long time (I've been at mine one year and three months), how big a sense of obligation does accepting cash gifts from parents bring? If you've done some extra work with a kid and suddenly get an envelope with say W50,000 or W80,000 in it, is it just a little thank-you for taking the time or is it an indication that they expect you to treat their kid like she's special or more important and deserving of attention than the others? Do you think it's just typical Korean generousity towards foreigners and anyone who can give their kid a perceived advantage?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I know in the recent past cash was given just to get the teacher to pay attention to the kid. Personally, I think I'd ask a good English speaker on the staff what he/she thinks of receiving the money. My gut tells me that the wiser course would be to refuse the money and tell the parent a box of cookies would be an appropriate gift to show appreciation, leaving no room for any ethical misinterpretations. But again, I think it's best to consult a Korean teacher who would understand the situation best.

[oldfatfarang]

I read a book recently that said, traditionally, some parents gave money envelopes to teachers so they wouldn't abuse their kids. Interestingly, this book was actually about Korean language, but had these neat little cultural snippets throughout.
I've had the gift voucher envelope once when a class finished (kids left to go on to high school). I suppose it was a thank you.

[laogaiguk]

[ChopChaeJoe]

You've been there awhile, the parents like you. Take the money.

Or don't. Cash is problematic. A non-cash gift is more simple. This is a bribe. so what?

[babtangee]

It's a bribe, no doubt. But it's rude not to take it - that's what any Korean teacher will most likely tell you

[crazylemongirl]

just as a side not on the food gifts who is to say that the envelops aren't in there shoved in the packaging>

[Hotpants]

Ahh, the wonders of the envelope pushing... Thinking it was the Korean way of negotiating things, I once tried to give my landlord an envelope bribe containing 80,000 won of book coupons to turn down the temperature of the building's underfloor heating system after asking politely several times failed to produce any result. Embarrassingly, I got handed the money back, and the heating system got switched down from 75 degrees celsius to 'just' 65 degrees...

[mumblebee]

One thing you might want to consider is how the kids might feel...My school forbid any gifting at all a few years ago, because it got very competitive between the parents...and woe to the kids whose parents felt (naturally enough) that they were shelling out quite enough on tuition, and didn't gift. Those kids felt pretty crappy about being empty handed. Even if you think gifting is done all privately and quietly, it isn't.

[CBP]

It might be considered rude to turn down a money envelope, but I'm not Korean. If I were to accept one, well ... it just seems rather sticky and therefore not worth it. Identify boundaries and don't give in.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Yu_Bum_suk]