Hagwon rules toughened for foreign instructors

By Kim Tae-jong

Operators of hagwon, or private learning institute, should check the criminal background, health and drug-test results and academic records of foreign applicants to be English instructors in recruitment from October, the education ministry said Tuesday.

They are also required to check applicants’ visa, passport and certificate of foreign registration, as part of efforts to eliminate unqualified English teachers working here, the ministry added.

The mandatory procedure is part of the revised Hagwon Law, which was passed at the National Assembly on July 25.

When the new law comes into effect, those who want to work here as a foreign English teacher should submit their criminal background and academic certificates and medical report in advance to apply for an E2 visa, and they also have to submit them to the operators of hagwon they want to work for.

The education ministry said the new measure is to resolve the widespread uneasiness over the credibility of foreign English teachers and properly screen out unqualified teachers.

Other new regulations

The new law also regulates other operations of hagwon.

It will strengthen a “report and reward” scheme to crack down on illegal activities of hagwon.

The authorities will grant up to 5 million won in a reward to those who inform the authorities of private tutors who receive extremely high tuition. Currently, the informants are given 20 percent of the tuition fee, or up to 2 million won, as a reward.

It is also illegal for hagwon operators to bill students for extra expenses other than six criteria such as tuition, textbooks, exams, class materials, uniforms, meals and accommodation, as part of regulation to disallow them from overcharging students.

Under the new law, hagwon operators also have to make public key information about curriculum, total number of students, tuition fees, names of teachers and operating hours.

The definition of hagwon has also been widened to include education websites and education consulting firms.