Foreign teachers are complaining over the government’s new immigration law asking them to submit police background checks and medical documents.

The reaction came after the Korea Immigration Service introduced legislation to ban foreigners with criminal records from getting an E-2 foreign language teaching visa.

So far, the government has required E-2 visa applicants to submit criminal records and health checkups under the immigration regulations since December 2007, just after the arrest of a pedophile suspect in Thailand who had taught children in Korea.

“The law, which will be put into effect from the end of March, will more thoroughly prevent foreigners with criminal records from coming to Korea than just regulations,” said Song So-young, an immigration official.

The official said the growing number of crimes committed by E-2 visa holders has driven the authorities to set the requirements.

Foreign English teachers, however, say while there is a big push by the Korean government to increase the number of teachers, it should realize that such restrictions will keep qualified teachers away.

The Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK) urged the government to scrap the requirements. “ATEK backs Korea’s efforts to simplify the E-2 visa application. Anything that makes it easier, quicker, or more convenient for qualified teachers to come and work is good for both foreign teachers and Korea,” said Tony Hellmann, spokesman for the association.

A Canadian E-2 visa holder who declined to be named, said the law promotes racism and lacks principle of equity with other foreign nationals coming to Korea for other jobs. “It’s not clear that the increase in crimes by foreigners is due to English teachers. It’s not fair that E2 visa holders are discriminated against,” he said

“Above all, if they showed that E2 visa holders indeed were committing more crimes than other visa holders, people would understand. Right now it seems like misplaced outrage or concern. The government’s motivation seems to be confused. Of course, everyone is blaming the Canadian teacher arrested in Thailand last year, but he didn’t have a criminal record anywhere.”

Many other foreign teachers at private language institutes also complain that the government should apply the same visa screening rules to foreign English teachers holding other visas as those applied to other foreigners seeking E-2 visas.

“If the government has decided to tighten the issuance of teaching visas because of increasing number of crimes by foreign teachers, what about other foreign teachers holding other types of visas such as F-2 or F-4?” said an Australian English teacher in Daejeon.

The immigration office said every country has its own right and guidelines to decide who they allow to issue visas to. The number of E-2 visa holders stood at some 20,000 last year.

Source:Korea Times

Some of the first and second year middle school students scheduled to take the “nationwide scholastic achievement assessment test,” or ilje gosa, on Tuesday went on field trips instead. Education officials say they are going to issue teachers who permitted students to go on field trips “heavy penalties” (jungjinggye), which usually means firing.

A group called the “Seoul Citizens Opposed to the Nationwide Scholastic Achievement Assessment Test” accompanied roughly 70 students to Deoksu Palace in downtown Seoul. Approximately twenty of the students were middle schoolers scheduled to take the ilje gosa.

Twenty-four students in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province school districts who chose not to take the test went to the historic city of Gyeongju instead, where they toured the National Gyeongju Museum.

In North Jeolla Province, approximately 20 students spent the day at the Daejeon Expo Park. The provincial civic group that led the field trip issued a statement saying the test “is an inhumane education policy that ranks students and schools.”

Three schools in North Jeolla refused to administer the test, choosing instead to hold regular classes. One of the schools, Jangsu Middle School, called a meeting of its school board to debate whether or not to participate in the exam, and recently informed the North Jeolla Office of Education of its decision.

Earlier, on December 2, North Jeolla education officials had sent the province’s schools official letters telling schools to inform them of whether or not they would be participating in the test.

“We would like to confirm which schools do not want to take the test, in order to lessen our workload,” the letter said. We “hope schools decide whether or not to take the test after ample discussion among school administrators.”

One official said the idea was “to give special schools, like alternative schools, some flexibility and allow schools to opt out of the test.” Aside from Jangsu Middle School, the other two schools in the province that chose not to participate in the exam are classified as “alternative.”

Meanwhile, 142 professors of education form across the country issued a statement on Tuesday in which they called on education officials to withdraw their dismissal of teachers who permitted students to participate in field trips instead of taking the test.

“Tests taken nationally and simultaneously are standardized assessments that ‘line schools up in order’ without policy consideration for areas that are neglected in education and without measures to support them, and the invariable result will be overheated university entrance competition and a bigger private tutoring craze,” the statement read.

“In a situation in which so many questioning the legitimacy of the simultaneous test, it is understandable enough that educators let students choose between field trips and the test after consulting with the subjects of the education, parents and students. And yet education officials are using ‘violent’ methods against them, such as removing them from their positions.”

The statement noted that in the United States, when students do not wish to take standardized tests, they can be excused from such exams after their parents convey those wishes to their respective schools.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has announced it will issue jungjinggye (“heavy censure,” which is often synonymous with firing) for teachers who either allowed students to go on field trips or who otherwise encouraged students to refuse to take the exam.

Source: Hankyoreh

Lee Jung-hwan became chairman and chief executive of Korea Exchange in March, just in time to preside over the steepest decline in South Korean stock prices this decade. Since January 2005, when the Korea Stock Exchange, the Korea Futures Exchange and the Kosdaq Market were combined, Korea Exchange has been the common-platform operator of the nation’s trading in stocks, bonds and financial derivatives and ranks itself as Asia’s seventh-largest bourse by market capitalization and the world’s second-largest derivatives market by number of trades.

Twice in the 1990s, South Korea’s markets experienced protracted downturns that erased three-quarters of shareholder value. But in recent years, volatility decreased and the Korean market entered a more mature phase, as South Koreans themselves took a longer-term approach to investing. Even so, this year South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index is down 44%, reflecting the world-wide equities selloff.

In September, London-based market evaluator FTSE Group said it would lift the South Korean exchange to developed-market status next year. That action is likely to be matched by MSCI Barra, a New York-based provider of support tools to investment institutions that is majority owned by Morgan Stanley, the global financial-services firm. Such reclassification means that South Korean companies, long the biggest target of emerging-market investors, would be eligible for the larger pool of investments that flow to advanced markets.

Mr. Lee, 54 years old, spent most of his career as an economist and tax specialist at South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy. In the late 1980s, he worked for three years at the World Bank, and in 1998 led Seoul’s delegation to the 30-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, in Paris.

In early 2005 Mr. Lee came to KRX to lead its management strategy division. Recently, he sat down at his office in Seoul for a chat with Evan Ramstad, where he spoke in English. Here are excerpts:

WSJ: How do you position KRX against other exchanges, particularly those nearby, such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai?

Mr. Lee: We have three strategies. With regard to the exchanges in advanced countries, such as in the U.S. or European countries, we have made strategic alliances. For example, we concluded an [memorandum of understanding] with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to put our Kospi 200 index futures on the CME global system.

Our other strategy is to work with new markets elsewhere in Asia. For instance, we’ve been training Cambodian government and central bank people to get used to the exchange environment. Because they don’t have stock exchanges, we thought it important to get people to know more about the operational stock market. We had an MOU for a joint-venture agreement with the Cambodian government — they are going to have 55% of shares and we will have 45% — and maybe this month we will sign the final agreement. We also have a preliminary agreement with the government of Laos to set up a stock exchange by 2010. We exported our bond-trading system to Malaysia and we are also discussing with the Mongolia Stock Exchange about modernizing their system.

The last part of our strategy is to attract foreign companies to list here. Last year, three Chinese companies were listed on the Korea Exchange for the first time. More than 10 foreign companies are on the waiting list.

WSJ: South Korea is on the verge of being reclassified by professional investors from being an advanced emerging market to a developed market. How does that affect KRX?

Mr. Lee: We changed our market operations according to their standards. Even though FTSE announced the reclassification in September, it takes time for investors to change. They have to reorganize their internal systems and reallocate their money. The impact will appear in the Korean market slowly.

WSJ: Does it affect the way you think about how you might do business in the future?

Mr. Lee: We are now looking at our own [initial public offering of shares] too, even if the timing is not set. We think the market-friendly policy is the best for exchange business.

WSJ: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

Mr. Lee: I was in the international finance division of the Ministry of Finance, and I learned a lot about the overall economic policy there, and more specifically about many financial products and financial planning. It was the early 1980s and at that time I was in charge of traffic control of our companies, including banks and private companies, to get [foreign investors involved in] bank loans or bond issues. We also discussed and reviewed their contracts with foreign companies. I accumulated my expertise and know-how in the financial market from that experience.

WSJ: How did your experience at the World Bank affect you?

Mr. Lee: I spent three years there as an economist. My eyes were opened at that time and I saw international people in the financial world, how they act and how they proceed with their daily work with other international bodies, including private banks and investment companies.

WSJ: What are some of the most important attributes you look for in managers?

Mr. Lee: Managers should have the intuition and the capacity to continuously give their staff new good ideas that are useful for the company, and after creating the ideas, make it policy to be used as that company’s growth engine.

WSJ: What advice do you give to people starting out in finance or in business to get to that kind of managerial level?

Mr. Lee: Whether in the financial or other industries, to people who graduate from school and enter a company, my advice is, if you cannot avoid the inevitable, then just try to enjoy it. You have to work with an engaged and positive mind. That will produce good results, whether in management or policy.

WSJ: What do you like to read?

Mr. Lee: I always carry a book in my briefcase. Lately, I have been reading a history of the Conservative Party in the U.K. by Kang Won-taek of Soongsil University in Seoul. I also read “Team Secrets of the Navy Seals” [subtitled "The Elite Military Force's Leadership Principles for Business," by Anonymous] and “The Dream Society” [subtitled "How the Coming Shift From Information to Imagination Will Transform Your Business"] by Rolf Jensen of Denmark.

WSJ: How do you keep the KRX staff motivated as the market goes through this volatile period?

Mr. Lee: The nature of the market is uncertain and the role of the market operator is to stick unswayed to principles rather than try to come up with special measures. I tell my staff that solutions often appear in the process of undertaking tasks. The best way to find solutions to problems is not to look for them per se but to do our job.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Check out the shadow of his legs compared to others. The Times is suspicious.

A 34-year-old man was booked Thursday for taking photos up women’s skirts with a camera phone hidden in his shoe. Heungdeok Police Station in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, said the offender, identified by Jeon, used such device to take photographs as well as videos while strolling express bus terminals in the area as many as 470 times since May.

Jeon cut off the top of his shoe, and inserted the camera therein. While walking along, he would put his feet under women’s skirts to get the images. Police believe Jeon has not uploaded his material online.

Police said they have booked him without detention since the victims of his action have not been identified and there is not concrete evidence to prove specific women as victims of his action.

Jeon was caught when a woman called up the police complaining a stranger had been following her all day long.

Source: Korea Times

U.S. President George W. Bush Friday will announce South Korea’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program, which allows Korean citizens to stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days without visas, and vice versa, Yonhap News reported quoting officials in Washington Thursday.

South Korea is among seven countries to join the program, which already has 27 member states, an official said. The other six are Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all of which belong to North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

South Korea began issuing electronic passports in August as a precondition for entry into the much-awaited program, which is expected to reduce long lines in front of the U.S. embassy in Seoul to get U.S. entry visas.

The program will likely take effect in mid-November, when Seoul and Washington sign an agreement on crime and terrorism prevention.

Those who plan to study, cover news stories or seek employment or a permanent stay are not subject to the program, and thus are required to get relevant visas for entry, according to the officials.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan visited Washington last month to agree on the exchange of information on suspected criminals, removing the last hurdle to South Korea’s entry.

Yu met with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at that time on providing criminal records of a limited number of suspects so immigration authorities in each country could access such information automatically at airports.

The minister said the automatic inquiry system is reciprocal and involves provision of information on certain types of crimes involving only a small number of people.

Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed in April to implement the VWP by the end of the year.

Source: Korea Times

An English textbook over 60-years-old has belatedly gripped Koreans eager to learn the language.
The book “English Restart” has been sold in more than 40 countries around the world since being introduced by influential English literary critic I.A. Richards, a professor at Harvard University back in 1945.

The picture-heavy publication features simple words, phrases and sentences without translations, unlike most contemporary English textbooks that often overwhelm readers with too much information.

Fans of “English Restart” are drawn to its simplicity and straightforwardness, and the recent upsurge in the books popularity has been amazing. Many readers rave about how it is helping them learn English in a short time span.

The book’s local publishers are astounded by the response to the revived edition, with people clamoring for additional editions.

One domestic internet survey group says this is the first time an English textbook has become a bestseller in Korea. To date, the book has been on the bestseller list since July.

A survey indicated most of the books readers are aged 20 to 40. Experts believe its popularity will likely endure for some time.

Source:Chosun Ilbo

Despite the slow economy that is forcing consumers to tighten their purse strings, a Pizza Hut restaurant in southern Seoul is enjoying a busier lunch time these days, as customers are up by 20 percent. There is a secret to this success ― a new discount menu.

The franchise last month launched “smart lunch” items, allowing visitors to eat small-sized pizzas and pasta dishes for 6,000 won ($4.70).

“We introduced these items because we thought customers wanted a meal at a reasonable price during an economic downturn,” a Pizza Hut spokesman said.

The slumping economy is leading to cuts in prices at various dining franchises, better known as “family restaurants” here.

Restaurants are not directly discounting prices for fear of possibly damaging their image as a good place to eat out, but instead they have tweaked menus for customers to eat at lower prices.

Those who eat at Vips, one of the biggest domestic restaurant franchises, can have a steak by paying an additional 1,000 won at the salad bar.

From last month, another family restaurant chain, TGIF, has expanded a new set menu to dinnertime, so customers can enjoy side dishes for an extra 2,000 to 3,000 won on top of their regular fare.

All the perks are a product of tough economic times in the end, according to the business.

“I can’t tell the exact figure but customers have certainly declined in recent months, and things are not much different in other franchises,” an employee of a restaurant chain said on condition of anonymity.

Franchises say their strategy of going cheaper is inevitable these days and more of them are expected to come up with menus that cater to budget diners sooner or later.

“Spending on eating out is the first to suffer when the economy in bad shape,” said Kwon Hyung-jun, a manager at CJ Foodville that operates 87 Vips restaurants nationwide. “For now the best priority is to attract visitors, even with discounts.”

The current discount strategy also means that a “bubble” in prices is bursting, according to business experts.

“Prices are definitely inflated for quality in family restaurants,” a marketing researcher said. “They hike prices to make up for their marketing expense.”

Still, some restaurant chains are releasing “premium” menus with higher quality meals and higher prices.

“Many customers are turning to cheaper food items, but there are also customers who want to have meals of good quality even at higher prices,” said Wee Ki-jung, a marketing manager of Mr. Pizza. The franchise’s latest dish, a crabmeat pizza, is the most expensive of all its meals.

“We are not planning to go for a low-end policy,” Wee said.

Source: Korea Times

Volunteers in Cheongdo are seen here gearing up for setting a new world record for dyeing fabric with persimmon juice (yes, there apparently is a world record for this.) In northeast Asia, but largely in Korea, the dyeing of fabric with persimmon juice is a long-standing practice that still is done to this day. Persimmon dyed fabric, often used for clothing, is known to preserve cotton better against water, sweat and bacteria. Ever been to a jjimjilbang and donned some dark orange clothing? Well, you’re wearing persimmon-dyed fabric. Anyways, these folks in nearby Cheongdo are using over 600 liters of persimmon juice on over 696 meters of fabric, which will given them the record.
Source: Imaeil

Every Korean has a name which, like its Western counterpart, consists of a given name (typically two Sino-Korean syllables) and a surname, inherited from one’s father. This seldom raises any question for a Westerner. Indeed, the system looks ‘natural’ ― not least because it is quite similar to the modern Western pattern. Perhaps, the only Korean specifics is that women do not change their surname after marriage (the same system exists in China and Japan as well).

Actually, this ‘naturalness’ is deceiving. The current system appeared only less than one hundred years ago even if its roots go to the much more distant past.

To start with, for a long time in Korea surnames were a privilege, which was initially granted only to the gentry (or yangban) class. Commoners, who formed over 90% of the population, formerly had no surnames at all. However, the gradual spread of surnames began during the Kory? period, in the 10-14th centuries, and by the 1700s a majority of Koreans had acquired them. Slaves were exceptions, but even they were allowed (and, indeed, required by law) to take surnames after they were finally emancipated in 1894. In 1909 a new law stipulated that all Koreans of both sexes had to have a surname, to be used alongside one’s given name.

Another peculiarity of the old system was that every Korean had not just one given name, but a variety of them. Apart from the official given name, people had ‘child’s name’ which was used during childhood, as well as a penname (if they were ― or aspired to become ― members of the educated elite) and, often, a posthumous name if they happened to be prominent dignitaries or were otherwise entitled to this privilege. And then members of the ruling elite were often referred to by their titles and honorary names, bestowed on them by the king.

The situation with women was even more complicated, since until the early 1900s women of the ‘low orders’ had no personal names at all! They were allowed ‘child names’ only. These names were Korean in origin and, unlike ‘proper’ names, did not come from the respected Sino-Korean vocabulary. The child’s names had no official currency, and were seldom if ever mentioned in the official papers. They were in use only within the household, and only until marriage, after that a woman lost even this quasi-name.

How was the nameless women referred to in official papers? For administrative and legal purposes, an unmarried girl was only a “daughter of so-and-so”, while the married women was a “wife of so-and-so”. In less official circumstances, a married woman could be referred to by her husband’s name or title (say, “a mistress of Magistrate Kim’s house”), or by her surname. In some cases she was called after the place of her birth. The latter way of address was common within the household as well. She could also be called by the name of her first son, as “so-and-so’s Mum” (as is still often the case).

Only few educated women had ‘proper’ (that is, Chinese-derived) names, which they usually invented for themselves. A majority of these women were courtesans whose names carried a slight touch of romantic and erotic associations (good advertising!): ‘Fragrant Cloud’ or ‘Gentle Willow’, or ‘Spring Aroma’.

The introduction of female education in the early 1900s changed the system. The educators needed some names they could use while referring to their students. They could not rely on the old good ‘child’s names’ (often clumsy and comical, like the popular “No more daughters!” and its numerous variations). Therefore, they simply invented names for their new students.

However, it was not only the schoolmasters who were busy concocting female names. The same problem of nameless women faced the bureaucrats. In a modernizing society a good half of the population could not remain essentially nameless. Thus, the authorities took the same approach, and by the early 1910s, under the auspices of the colonial administration, almost all Korean women had acquired their own formal names. These newly invented female names were structured according to the already established male pattern: a surname, followed by one or two characters of a given name.

However, the system was challenged by the Japanese administration in the 1940s, shortly before the demise of the colonial regime. At that time, the colonial administration undertook a last ditch attempt to completely “Japanize” Koreans and undermine their national identity. Thus, the authorities ordered all Koreans to change their names into Japanese ones. The Japanese names have the same pattern as the Korean and Chinese variations: a surname followed by a given name. However, the characters used for names in Japan are very different from those commonly employed in Korean or China. Most Koreans had to bow to the pressure, but they instantly discarded the Japanese names after the liberation.

Only after 1945 was the present-day system finally established. However, soon it began to be re-interpreted by the re-invented system of lineages.

Prof. Andrei Lankov was born in St.Petersburg, Russia, and now teaches at Kookmin University in Seoul.

Source: Korea Times