Drug abuser. Child molester. Sexual deviant. HIV/AIDS carrier. Criminal.
How did English teachers develop such a reputation in recent years? Is it deserved? Statistically sound? Of course not. But does that matter to a yellow media dedicated to distorting a non-problem into an ongoing social fear?
The rub? According to the government’s OWN statistics, there were exactly 13 drug violation arrests amongst nearly 20,000 E-2 English teaching visas in 2008. That’s less than 5 taxis full of people. Or 13/19,375 — or 0.067% of the English teachers in Korea. In other words, less than 1/10 of 1% of the English teachers in Korea were the ones showing up in the newspapers.
Does that sound like a threat to children?
Despite what the newspapers recycle as apparent fact, the number of foreigners arrested for drugs was low enough to fit into my living room.
What about the fact that there has not been a SINGLE case of child molestation perpetrated by a foreigner in the years cited? So what about all the talk about “foreigners are a sexual threat” or “they might touch our kids?” Just that — talk. Rumors and hearsay rustled up by the media, but in the end — there were no cases. None. Nada. Zip. 없어.
In fact, in the official human rights complaint filed with the Korean National Human Rights Commission, the point is brought up that many, many actual cases of KOREAN teachers abusing small children, raping students, extorting sexual favors for grades, and engaging in extreme corporal punishment appear in the newspapers each day, and there is scarcely a month that passes without a major sex ring scandal, series of rapes, or other such incidents happen involving a Korean teacher or professor.
There was even a crackdown on Korean teachers that resulted in 56 working high school teaches doing drugs — in a single bust! — or 4 times the amount in a single drug raid than the TOTAL NUMBER OF FOREIGN TEACHERS ARRESTED IN A YEAR for the same offenses.
What the hell is going on here?
If you are worried about your Korean child being beaten, molested, sexual threatened, or taught by a drug-using teacher –
YOU ARE FAR SAFER HAVING A FOREIGN TEACHER INSTRUCT YOUR CHILD.
It’s a statistical fact.
The point here is that the crime rate for foreigners in the categories of drug violations, child abuse, and sexual abuse is far, far lower than for the Korean population. It’s almost incomparable. And even in the category of foreign TEACHERS versus Korean TEACHERS, Korean teachers still win the prize for beating, sexually abusing, and otherwise fucking their students, in addition to using illegal drugs.
SO, WHY THE UNDUE AND UNDESERVED EMPHASIS on foreign teachers?
Because we are outsiders, an easy social target, and can’t speak back.
[...] wrote in Korean Media Watch on the media bias against foreign English teacher in South Korea. Cancel this [...]
It’s terrible that the awful Yellow Media can do this and get away with it so easily. I fucking hate the media in this country, and the fact that making the people change to be more tolerant is currently impossible, as they are bombarded with racist rhetoric.
I will ask a Korean group/association, or whatever to be the translation editor. They are concerned with Korean children etc…I’ll explain to them they can help in this way. Their group or whatever is trying to model an American group, so I’ll see how serious they are by their response. One of their members is an ex-prime minister.
Well spoken. Thanks for posting that.
I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill , but then you have never really been the brightest spark. Take a look at you own portfolio of photographs and think about why some people might think foreigners are nymphomaniacs and have a predilection for young girls. Michael Hurt, you are disingenuous and a fake.
Time to go back home and ground your wires a little bit.
Maybe I’m not bright, but I simply make the most out of my time wherever I go, and try to leave the world a better place than I found it. What have YOU been doing, dog? I’m satisfied with all I’ve done here, both in the professional and private spheres.
As for me being disingenuous and/or a fake? How so? Did I ever say I didn’t have a predilection for young girls? I certainly don’t have a predilection for OLD ladies. Hey, maybe I’m even a nymphomaniac. Or I sniff feet and rub myself in shrimp cocktail sauce while I do it.
Point is, that’s my business, not illegal, and doesn’t affect anyone outside my home. And I don’t think I need a criminal background check, HIV test, or whatever else they come up with is going to stop us young girl-clicking, shrimp cocktail sauce, feet-loving foreigners from coming to Korea, nor should it. As long as it doesn’t involved minors nor is it illegal, hey, to each, his own ladle of sauces in which to soak.
I have to agree that this sort of group is needed. I would also urge the bloggers who are behind this to help foreigners working in Korea by coming together to expose people working here who have a history of sexual misconduct with minors, whether it be in Korea or back home.
Is anybody familiar with the possibly useful institution mentioned here?
Hi,
Really great idea but I can bet that people will appreciate more professional language. Do not get me wrong I fully support you (as a spouse of Korean and someone who might live in the Korea one day) but improper language will not help you with the case.
Anyway, wish you all the best!
Any developments on this?
That’s a good point.
I think firm but polite language would be preferable.
Some people who are able to help may be reluctant if the message here is expressed in inflammatory language.
Hi Metro.
Great site. There used to be another Korean Media Watch, back in the old days run by Gerry Bevers. The site is now defunct, and this site can fill a much needed void in monitoring the Korean media. BTW, does anyone else make the connection that the racial bias in the Korean media is partially related to the fact that foreigners are not allowed to own or run media organisations (like newspapers) in Korea? Self defense via ethnically owned and run media is not permissible.
Good point — and one that will automatically be addressed as more writers and translators come onto this site.
Thanks!
“Korean Media Watch”? Catchy name.
Korean media definitely needs to be watched because bad journalism hurts both Koreans and foreigners, and you seem more than qualified to do the watching, Metropolitician.
However, I would also suggest against using improper language. It does not have to be professional language, but there are good substitutes for such phrase as “fucking their students.” You communicate well enough without having to use the dirty words for shock value. Besides, there are already too many foulmouthed foreigners blogging on Korea.
This just in. Foreigners like to sniff feet and rub selves in shrimp cocktail sauce. Are your children safe?
Just a note to trolls like “JK” — your comment will be deleted and you will be IP banned from even ENTERING the site again. So don’t even try and leave a trollish comment.
[...] the name of sensationalism. Indeed, others are angry enough to have decided to go proactive and keep an eye on Korea’s yellow journalism. Presumably, most of that anger comes from a perception that the sort of perpetuation of negative [...]
Expose them how if they’ve already passed criminal background check standards set by the Korean government?
Start invading everyone’s privacy? Put up flyers with pictures of “alleged” criminals?
A history of sexual misconduct with minors is a broad term. An 18 year old high school senior sleeping with a 17 year old high school senior is engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor. People who were arrested for such a situation do not deserve to be in the same category.
You’re starting a witch hunt by encouraging bloggers to “expose” others with a criminal past. Unless, they are committing a crime in front of you, or you have proof then go to the police. Don’t blog hearsay and conjecture.
Mike Yates says:
June 14, 2009 at 2:34 am
I have to agree that this sort of group is needed. I would also urge the bloggers who are behind this to help foreigners working in Korea by coming together to expose people working here who have a history of sexual misconduct with minors, whether it be in Korea or back home.