[Exclusive] Korea Is Heaven for Illegal Private English Tutoring

This is the first in a series of articles on illegal private English tutoring.

By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

A 38-year-old Canadian who identifies himself by the alias Mark Cohen holds an E-2 teaching visa and is teaching English at a kindergarten in southern Seoul, but he also gives private English lessons to three groups of students.

During a meeting with The Korea Times in downtown Seoul, Cohen said he charges 50,000 to 70,000 won per hour for private lessons, though the fee is negotiable.

He also said the part-time jobs bring him as much money as he receives from his main job.

Asked whether he knows that such tutoring is against immigration regulations, he said, "I don't understand why it could be a problem. Most of my friends are doing part-time jobs like me."

Many foreigners are unaware that private tutoring is illegal. Under the Immigration Law, E-2 visa holders and foreigners on tourist visas are banned from making money through giving private lessons.

In the case of F-visa holders such as F-2 (spouses of Koreans) and F-4 (ethnic Koreans), the holders are permitted to offer private lessons for money, but are required to report them to city or provincial education offices.

In reality, however, a large number of foreigners are giving private English lessons, with many of them already fulltime English teachers at schools or private language institutes. Often, they meet up with parents and students through online communities or are introduced by their friends.

Lesson fees vary depending on a variety of factors including the students' English level and age and other working conditions.

A woman who identified herself as Winch, the wife of a U.S. Army employee in Korea, recently started giving English lessons to a group of students in Gangnam, southern Seoul.

When approached to comment whether her visa status allows for private tutoring, she said she believes it doesn't matter, as she is not officially working at a school or other institute.

There are also English tutors without appropriate resident visas. James Ryan (an alias) is a 35-year-old man who came here two years ago from the United States - he started private English tutoring in the Gangnam area last year.

He said he normally advertises on apartment notice boards to recruit students and that sometimes parents of his former students recommend him to other potential clients.

Ryan works with his Korean girlfriend, who assists him by answering phones and dealing with Korean parents.

Behind the illegal English tutors are parents and students who have to cope with current government's education policy focusing on "practical English."

Park Hye-soo, a middle school student who has lived overseas, is currently taking private English lessons to maintain her language skills. She pays 50,000 won per hour for writing lessons and 40,000 won for speaking and conversation with her tutor.

A high school student who declined to be named is preparing for early admission to university here, and has two-hour sessions twice per week to boost his writing and speaking skills.

He also gets his essays proofread, and practices interviews and debating skills. The monthly cost amounts to approximately one million won. He said, "It costs this much as the sessions are fairly intensive."

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr

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