Yoboseyo? Pot, This is Kettle Calling.

So you'd be forgiven for thinking that English Teachers in Korea are, by in large Sex crazed, drug dealing morons.

Thanks to The Korea Times for a bit of Pot calling Kettle Black sanctimony:

Education ministry officials formed the largest group on the list of civil servants who were caught paying for sex.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Chang Je-won of the ruling Grand National Party, a total of 229 government officials were caught involved in prostitution last year.

Of them, 93 were local government officials and 42 education-related officials, including those at education offices in provinces and cities.

By ministry, the education ministry accounted for the largest number of 19, followed by the now-defunct Ministry of Information and Communications (Korea Communications Commission) with 17, and the National Police Agency with 15.

A total of 130 civil servants have been apprehended in the first five months of this year. Of them, education ministry officials accounted for 10, also the largest number among ministries, followed by six from the Ministry of Justice.

The number of police officers implicated in prostitution is also on the rise.

``We need stronger sanctions against violators, '' Chang said, insisting that the relevant law be amended.

(Emphasis mine.)

Points for consistency though - "We need stronger sanctions against violators" sounds quite similar to "We must tighten screening for the many unqualified teachers".

If there is one thing getting to me about living in Korea at the moment its the institutional and societal hypocrisy.

Comments

[Jake Crocker]

Hey Stafford. thanks for the kind reply. I'm really keen on the job & sounds like you're having fun there! 5 years wow.. must be a great place to live. Anyway how are the currency rates turning out? I have a friend who told me that he's getting a lot less than about 12 months ago just because Korea's won is turning out a bit nasty. I know that it's 800won for NZ dollar so if you took NZ money then you'd actually get a lot more right? So it'd be best to keep the money in korea and maybe invest by bringing some extra NZ money.. that's my wise plan lol.

According to my good friend who's in Busan, people in Korea are a little depressed about the economy etc and the recent president's death.. is this true? This won't affect our teaching positions right? Because if parents can no longer afford tuition fees, then they'll have to cut down on hagwon teachers etc? I heard that especially young people who have graduated are struggling a little with the recession etc.. I guess everywhere you go.. this is happening though.. even in a small country like NZ! But Korea sounds like a haven to me if they're offering jobs like that! You won't be able to find one like that in NZ anymore.. which is why I'm seriously considering this after graduating.

Anyway I enjoy reading your Chosun Bimbo (what a great name!) - but my friend was saying that Chosun is anti-roh moo hyun.. lol.. I don't quite know what he means.. but there's a segregation between Han-Nara-Dang supporters & Roh Moo Hyun's supporters.. anyway.. I'm a politics major so I'm really keen on this kind of stuff lol.

Thanks for your regular posting!

. do foreigners get bank accounts as well?