From whence cometh this ire, wondreth you, dear reader?
(Don't know where that last sentence came from, but I'm in a strange mood.)
Here's the original story as it broke on Korea Beat, and here's the original Korea.com press release in Korean.
Now, they come back with an English-language-only clarification/apology (who cares, if it's only in English, and not clarifying/apologizing in Korean?) that's truly Korean style -- only enough to save face and embarassment, but doesn't actually address the moral/ethical transgression in the first place, nor will it likely change its approach to the issue in the future.
Don't believe their bullshit.
There's no Korean press release. It's not being released on Naver, nor will any Korean hear about it.
So you know what, Seoul.com? Fuck you. 퍽유 베리 머치.
I know that's immature and 유치해, but you have to deal with these people on a level commensurate with which they deal with you. And it doesn't matter, anyway, right? Since Koreans don't read what's going on in the Korean English-language blogosphere, anyway, right?
Except for the foreigners on whose side Seoul.com is disingenuously trying to get back on the good side of. Whew -- that's a lot of preposition problems in that last sentence, no?
Anyway! I digress. Don't believe a word of that BS apology-in-the-Korean-police-station kind of line. Seoul.com is obviously just as negatively biased and anti-foreigner as the rest of the Korean news media.
They just got caught.
Here's another little gem, called "The Types of Bad Native Speaking English Teachers" (sic):
Run away
Teach for a month and get a salary, then disappear.
Have fun
Just drink, fun with girls. Drink heavily after Hakwon and absent Hakwon next day execusing Headache, but drink again at that night.
Raise up the salary
At first accept salary level, but soon asking higher salary.
Meet several other Hakwons asking such higher salary, and increase the competition among Hakwons.
I don’t remember what I said
Agreed first but change his mind later, and repeat to say I don't remember what I said, for the case he is defensive.
I got angry
Finished all process including interview, documents, and came to Korea. But he has so many complaints about Korea, Hakwon, students but still staying in Korea.
Yeah, they're a little site, but that little press release they had has every bit of an impact as any other piece of obviously prejudice-based, anti-foreigner garbage being published on Naver. So let them hear from you!
I have a fun rebuttal to their little list. I call it "Lovely Standard Practices of the Hagwon Industry"
Not Getting Paid
Teach for a year, then the hagwon will catch you being 5 minutes late or some minor violation during the last week of your contract and then fire you. No severance pay. Or how about just NOT paying your for your last month at all? They know that most foreigners won't go through the long process of suing, and just give up.
Getting Screwed or Being Lied To
Signed a contract for a certain salary, number of hours, a private apartment, and all sorts of other benefits? Then you arrive and realize it was all a lie! But you're fresh out of college and naively expected that a contract means something, right? Wrong! Not in Korea! Since you don't have any other options right now, you accept 75% of the salary, 5 more hours per week than you had agreed, and live in a shitty apartment with 3 roommates. Welcome to Korea! And you wonder why some people just leave the country without finishing?
Not Getting Raises
Usually, in the modern world, if you decide to work longer and renew a contract, you get a raise because of your experience, the money they'd save from not having to train another person, reduction of turnover, gratitude -- something. I guess when a foreigner asks for that, they're considered a greedy snake.
"Have Fun"
Wait -- going out and drinking with girls, stay out late at night, have hangover in the morning...we're talking about a Samsung 회식, right? Oh, that's right. All the FOREIGNERS drinking here like madmen -- not Koreans. Riiiiiight.
"I Don't Remember What I Said"
Sorry. This is the Korean hagwon owner's #1 line. Not the foreigner's. I simply call BS on this one, and refer you to the first three practices on this list.
"I Got Angry"
With that standard bullshit being listed above, wouldn't you be fucking angry, too?
"Run Away"
What I suggest you do from the nearest Korean hagwon recruiter or advertisement to teach or work in Korea, unless they come highly recommended from a trusted source, or are affiliated with a reputable international organization. I am only in Korea because I'm NOT an English teacher and have an F-4. If I had to take an HIV test, a criminal background check, and endure constant suspicion that I am a criminal just to teach English in a hagwon (and a system) that doesn't give two shits about standards, anyway, I'd say go to Japan. At least the work and residency visas aren't linked (i.e. if your boss is an asshole or is screwing you, you can quit and not have to leave the country, making you effectively NOT a 17th-century-era INDENTURED SERVANT, which is exactly what you are in Korea.
Thanks, Korea.com, for being a shining example of the worst assumptions and sentiments that continue to be a barrier between Korean-foriegner relations! And if you'd like to thank them yourself, through email, phone, or even in person, here's their contact information, garnished from the link on their own site:
USA : 5 Malibu Irvine, CA., 92602 USA.
Tel : 714-389-4273, [email protected]
Korea : Rm. 402, 876-2 Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-832, Korea
Tel : 82-2-568-2255 Fax : 82-2-425-2263
[email protected]
If not, just remember to associate Seoul.com in your head with "two more asshole ajussis trying to exploit foreigners in Korea even as they vilify them for being here."
This is the same MO as the rest of the Korean media and English-industrial-complex here. Don't believe their hype.