By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Complaints among black native English speakers have been among the loudest in the cries over the alleged widespread nature of racism in Korea.
And, according to a group of stakeholders in the recruitment process for native English teachers, the plight of the group, particularly African-Americans, is emerging as one of the most grave.
The complaints have largely emanated from an alleged common practice among English teaching recruiters to overlook them in favor of Caucasians, despite both groups often sharing similar backgrounds and the same level of education.
Some say the situation is worsening as the availability of white native English teachers becomes greater in the wake of the economic difficulties facing countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
African-American Lionel Bourjolly, who responded in the aftermath of the recent racist discrimination case won by Indian man Bonojit Hussain, told The Korea Times that due to his ethnicity, he was continually thwarted in his bid to get a job here.
``I was twice denied the chance of a job interview when the recruiters realized that I was black,'' he said.
``I had sent my resume without a photograph. Once I submitted my picture, the recruiters simply told me that the schools in question don't hire black teachers.''
The event coincided with U.S. President Barack Obama's historic run for the White House, he said.
English language institutes, or hagwon, are infamous for their selection process of English teachers, weeding out applicants that don't fit the three basic criteria: from an English speaking country, below the age of 35, and Caucasian, critics say.
Hagwon often defend their actions by stressing the intense pressure put on them by the parents of students, they add.
One hagwon owner said that the practice was unavoidable.
The man, who asked that his identity be withheld, said discriminative practices do take place, but mainly because Korean parents demand white English teachers.
ASK-ETO Recruiting, an agency that specializes in finding teachers for hagwon, said that on countless occasions they had failed to secure a workplace for African-Americans ― despite in some cases putting forward applicants who were effectively over-qualified.
``Instead of a good African-American teacher, they would choose a Caucasian teacher, one who doesn't care about teaching or the children,'' said Jason Creswell, co-owner of the agency.
``In the past, public schools have been lenient in employing teachers, but now due to more applicants ― because of the bad economy in the West ― they are becoming pickier.
``I don't know if a legislative change is the answer; it is something that people have to be educated about. There has to be an attitude change.''
The Association of Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK), set up in 2008 to support the rights of native English teachers and advance English education, said discrimination takes place even before individuals get the chance to have a face-to-face with employers.
``The recruiting level is where the discrimination really happens,'' said President Greg Dolezal.
``African-Americans and Africans are a small minority in our organization.
``You're hired on your photo. Hagwon feel Caucasians, for some reason, have more authentic English ability.''
Although Dolezal has noticed a change among students in light of their greater exposure to African-American culture, and with the presidency of Obama, in order to put a halt to discrimination in the education system, the hiring process has to be changed, he explained.
The Korea Times made repeated attempts to contact several of the larger hagwon chains, including YBM and Pagoda, to inquire about their hiring policy ― specifically as it relates to black native English teachers ― but no one was available for comment.
Korea Times intern JR Breen contributed reporting to this article.