Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lydia]

The greatest slavery of all?
Writer Kim Seok-pil takes a not so tongue-in-cheek look at the EFL sector and asks the question: Are EFL teachers in Korea lower than Goryeo Dynasty slaves?
Are foreign teachers in Korea, slaves? Or rather, do EFL teachers in Korea receive fewer benefits than Goryeo Dynasty slaves? During the Goryeo period (892-1259) there were landowning slaves. These slaves were not unique in terms of race or religion. They were simply people who could be bought or sold as property. At that time, social status was clearly defined and cemented in legal statutes such as those contained in Goryeosa and more specifically in the Gyeongguk Daejeon or National Law. Segregation and discrimination were intrinsic parts of the law.
There were at the time, both public and private slaves. Government female slaves included domestics, entertainers and courtesans. Punishment of slaves varied from execution to banishment and branding. However, by mid-Goryeo a slave could own land and even other slaves. A slave, no matter his position, was not as good as other men. With few exceptions, a slave could not speak for himself.

Now, let's take a look at EFL teachers in Korea.
An EFL teacher cannot simply quit his job when he or she wants to. A foreign teacher attempting to flee the country before the completion of a contract can be arrested and held in jail. Then, after payment of a fine, he or she is deported, or "banished." A permanent record is imposed, similar to a branding, after only one offense. A slave during the Goryeo Dynasty however, could attempt three escapes before the punishment of branding was imposed.
Foreign teachers in Korea are often fired in the 11th month of their contracts, thus denying them of the benefits they are supposedly guaranteed by Korean law. Foreign teachers are not part of any "social whole."
For the most part, EFL teachers are not prisoners of war, or criminals. They are, however, forced into a subordinate role in Korean society by what are often wealthy hagwon (private institute) owners.
Foreign teachers cannot speak for themselves. They can and often are punished in a variety of ways for advocating on their own behalf. An EFL teacher is only permitted to teach English at the educational institution to which he is contracted. No other employment is permitted.
Let's take a look at a few other things about slaves. Slaves have the comradeship of other slaves. They know they are slaves. But, foreign EFL teachers in Korea are often unaware of their true social status here. Foreign EFL teachers blindly move through society thinking they are free, when, in fact, in many respects, they are lower than Goryeo Dynasty slaves. This ignorance may be the greatest slavery of all.

[normalcyispasse]

Are we slaves, or are we just well-accomodated zoo creatures? I'm pretty sure Goryeo landowners didn't point and say, "Hey, look, a slave! I bet it feels weird if I touch the fur on its arm!"

[Zolt]

Well, Goryo era slaves probably didn't get 2M+ a month and housing, but still, the guy does have a few points. It's good to see a Korean tackling the subject for once.

The whole hagwon industry has a very medieval feel to it, and foreign teachers ares not even the worst off.

[indytrucks]

Good Christ Almighty ... the author should visit a random factory somewhere and interview the various Bangaladeshis or Indonesians or Thais or Pinoys working there to see what real slavery might be like.

[xtchr]

[jdog2050]

[mack4289]

When I was spending my ample free time and money drinking in Hongdae this weekend until 1030am and then came home and slept in my air conditioned free apartment, I couldn't help thinking how hard it is for us slaves.

[Ilsanman]

It's not about pay and benefits of each group. It's about freedoms.

Though we have the right to leave Korea and not enter into their system, once we do, the comparisons are strikingly similar.

[mack4289]

Look I think we should have our own visas. Visa mobility is the closest thing there is to a magic bullet to alleviate a lot of the hagwan system's habits of mistreating teachers.

But why compare us to slaves? I see the similarities but why throw in the slavery comparison? If you think it's going to get someone's attention, you're right. They'll probably look at it and say, "These English teachers are self-absorbed babies just like we thought. Screw them and their rights. They're not responsible or reasonable enough to deserve those rights." I wouldn't agree with that person, but this sensationalistic comparison will get that reaction from most people.

[shifdog]

[IncognitoHFX]

Wow... I know people hate it when I rant about stuff back home, but yes. If you're at a semi-decent hagwon this job isn't bad and the formalities are worth it. If you really think you can compare it to slavery, go home and work the backshift at Wal-Mart/a call center/a 24-hour convenience store and find out what "slavery" is about. Or better yet, go check out a sweatshop in Malaysia.

Slavery isn't relative... slavery is obvious, this is very far from what rational people would deem slavery.

[The_Conservative]

This was already posted before...and debunked.

[DaeguKid]

tell this clown that those slaves were not making 50 bones an hour to teach/babysit/entertain the "mans" kids...If for a second i thought i was a slave or anyone else here for that matter, we would be gone.

That guy probably aint gettin any and is sick of watching waygooks do....
DK