The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 26, 2022 | 21:12
Illegal Foreign Tutors on Rise
Posted : 2010-01-29 18:40
Updated : 2010-01-29 18:40
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

John Gardner (an alias) has illegally worked at a college and several private language academies in Korea over the past five years.

Although the Canadian didn't have a bachelor's degree, required for an E-2 or English-teaching visa here, he came and started work at Baekseok University in Cheonan on a tourist visa.

"The school staff said it was fine and they would be able to supply me with a visa through their connections," he told The Korea Times.

However, he didn't receive an E-2 visa or his salary for several months, before being dismissed.

"When I went to the university, they told me that if I kept coming back, they would call the police. This left me in a strange situation. I wasn't able to go to the police, and I wasn't able to push the issue legally, because of my illegal status," he said.

He left the university and continued to teach English illegally at private institutes and corporations in Seoul and nearby cities. Many foreigners who come here to teach English are in similar situations.

According to the Korea Immigration Office, Friday, the number of "illegal" foreign private tutors arrested rose to 226 last year, compared to 211 in 2008, 172 in 2007 and 143 in 2006.

Among those arrested in 2009, Americans made up the largest portion with 79, followed by 36 Canadians and 31 Filipinos.

Of those caught, 144 were illegally hired, while 45 violated employment regulations. Also, 93 were E-2 visa holders, while 68 came here on D-2 or student visas and the rest were on tourist visas.

Eleven illegal teachers were deported and 42 were ordered to leave the country, while 68 were reported to the police. However, the immigration authorities say that the statistics show only a small number of the total illegal language teachers.

"We crack down from time to time on illegal foreigner teachers on tips from citizens, but it is very difficult to search out the large number of foreigners involved in irregularities," an immigration office told The Korea Times.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
 
  • Gunman kills 18 children at Texas elementary school
  • Korea to allow visa waiver at Yangyang airport for int'l travelers from 4 countries
  • Over 76% of Koreans support legalizing euthanasia
  • Will government establish new immigration agency?
  • North Korea launches missiles to test Seoul-Washington deterrence
  • N. Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles, including 1 suspected ICBM: JCS
  • [INTERVIEW] Defender of inter-country adoptees' rights
  • Japan's unwelcome move
  • Corporate sponsors in dilemma over Son Heung-min's skyrocketing model fee
  • Auditing firms compete to secure rookie accountants
  • Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense' Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense'
  • 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell
  • Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea
  • Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave' Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave'
  • Webtoon 'Navillera' nominated for renowned Eisner Award Webtoon 'Navillera' nominated for renowned Eisner Award
DARKROOM
  • 75th Cannes Film Festival

    75th Cannes Film Festival

  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group