Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JLarter]

Is anyone involved in coaching kids football (soccer) in or around Seoul?
I'd like to get involved in this here as I've done a lot of it before at home and in the US and love every minute of it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Hmmm, another 'deportable' offence?

[JLarter]

If it's for free then you can't be deported. That's just freakin stupid. That's like saying you can't have Korean friends as they may be picking up English from you.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[JLarter]

Yeah sounds pretty stupid. I mean, who's business is it what I do in my free time? Hell if I discover the next great footballer they wouldn't complain would they?!!!

[JLarter]

So does anyone have any info?

[waggo]

It is illegal . I checked it out two years ago and was told i wasnt allowed to do it (voluntarily even) on a tourist visa.

[andy202]

Illegal?

How? Why? Eh?

[JLarter]

It can't be illegal. That's like saying that it's illegal for me to even be playing soccer here.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Immigration official: '[*beep*, I don't know] You only follow contract [better not say anything that might come back to me] - contract say you only work Englishee teachuh, you only teachie Englishie'.

Ministry of Justice official: 'Foreigner are not allowed to do volunteer work outside contract [because if they were they could produce something making fun of our highly sophisticated yet so fragile culture]'.

TUM, et al.: 'Why are you trying to impose your western ways on Koreans? Korean football has to develop on its own. It's not for you Englishmen to come over hear and make it your white man's burden to try to educate Koreans on how to play a game you happened to invent. You think your footballing ways are so superior? Ha - you can't make a difference. Your only job is to teach them English and maybe learn about Korean culture from a visit to a folk village. Just do your job, go home, be a good guest, respect your hosts, and be thankful that they invited you into their country. If Korean football is to develop it will have to develop on its own. Never mind the fact that it happens to the most international sport in the world'.


And so, stuck between these three pillors of stupidity, the bottom line is that Korea claims to be a free and democratic country, so live your life as such. Good luck finding a team that wants a volunteer coach, and have hopefully a very rewarding experience making a difference in some kids' lives. I'm sure there's no kids soccer team in Korea that wouldn't be absolutely thrilled to have a foreigner who knows how to play helping them out a bit. I'm sure having your support would be a huge motivation to any amateur team.