By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Three English teachers at an elementary school and private institutes were detected for selling or taking drugs.

Police arrested two Canadian instructors Thursday for the violation of the Drug Law, while booking a Korean English teacher who had studied abroad and 36 others including Thai migrant workers on the same charges.

The three teachers have taught children English for up to three years at elementary schools in Seoul and hagwon in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, according to police.
Police allege they taught students while under the influence of the drugs.

The accused told police that they drank alcohol spiked with ecstasy at techno bars in Gangnam, Hongdae and Itaewon on weekends between last December and February, and the drinking parties usually lasted till the next morning.

``They said they took the drug habitually as they could not avoid the temptation of the induced feeling and the illusion that the lighting of the bars looked like a laser show,'' a police officer said.

``The effect of ecstasy lasts about a day, so it is possible that they could have taught children while high after taking the drug Sunday night,'' he said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr