Recently this issue has become a lightening for debate due to a blog interview and budget cuts in Seoul 1) A blogger interviewed a korean highlighting many of the problems of foreigners living and working in korea. This sparked controversy on the blog site and many other discussion threads as many felt these were gross exaggerations and did not describe them accurately, although there were some truths also Article : What do Koreans Really Think of Native English Teachers http://www.girlandtheworld.org/what-do- koreans-really-think-of-native-english- teachers-a-girlandtheworld-girls-of-the -world-interview/ 2) The second was a recent decision by the Seoul Metropolitan Board of Education to phase out foreign teachers by 2014. While this hasnt trickled down to other provinces/cities yet, they will surely follow suit one day if the Seoul experience is sucessful. Article : Seoul to let all Native English Speaking Teachers go by 2014 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/12/08/seo ul-to-sack-all-native-english-speaking- teachers-by-2014/ 3) Article : Seoul to phase out native teachers in 2012 (contradicts the above article) http://english.chosun.com/site/data/htm l_dir/2011/12/08/2011120800743.html Students from low-income families will likely bear the brunt of the policy. "Students from well-to-do families may find lessons from native English-speakers dull because they've been attending private tutoring institutes since they were young," an education official said. "But those from poor families should be given the opportunity to learn English with native speakers at school." He added it is "too early to reduce the number of native speakers as long as Korean teachers aren't good enough to replace them." 4) A well researched article explaining the survey behind the cuts in more detail http://populargusts.blogspot.com/2011/1 2/smoe-native-speaking-teacher-budget.h tml the SMOE report (from May) which this refers to said that one third of native speaking teachers were at the lowest level referred to pay scales based on qualifications, which would have already been known when SMOE (or EPIK) hired them How is this our fault when they set the entry requirement so low and just took anyone from UK/US/Can/Aus with a University Degree in the first place, now they're claiming we're 'not qualified'? Also some schools do not want to hire more qualified teachers higher up on the pay scale. The results also leave out the part from the survey where parents said they prefer to have a native english teacher as well as a billingual korean teacher. 5) Korean Woman's Interview about Foreigners Sparks more Controversy than Intended http://international.ohmynews.com/2011/ 12/13/korean-womans-interview-about-for eigners-sparks-more-controversy-than-in tended/ While the debate continues to rage in many discussion threads, there is much that can be said on each issue. There are many problems in the korean education system, the hiring and recruitment process, the level and attitide of both korean and foreign english teachers. Some recruiters think they are running a modelling agency and only want young good looking westerners which is no reflection of their teaching skills or ability to adapt to korean life. http://www.parkenglish.com/redirect/gue stbook/testimonials-guestbook-L.php I've never understood why korea insists on a criminal record check from back home to renew (which is a very lengthy and difficult process from overseas) when I was in korea for the entire year, yet do not ask for any korean criminal record check for my time in Korea where I could have been committing violations?? Such surveys are also one sided and dont talk to the foreign english teachers themselves about some of the problems. They claim we are too costly and not effective, yet do not address korean co-teachers sitting at the back, reading a book, napping, or not even bothering to show up. This leaves a native teacher alone with an unruly class unable to communicate properly, which of course is not cost effective!. If the Seoul budget cuts trickle down to other provinces and cities it seems like the decision will be made for us. As foreigners I always knew we would be an easy target if there were financial pressures on government. Also by cutting public school teachers parents will still insist on them in private academies thereby transferring the costs from government. I think Daegu where I live will be saved for now as they have their own budget and there was a push for english education since I came as they acknowledge they are losing recruits to more desirable locations such as Seoul and Busan. 2014 is still a way off, the other cities/provinces have made no such announcement and probably wouldnt go before Seoul where english levels are higher. Japan which is 20 years ahead in ESL teaching still hires public school teachers thru the JET program outside of Tokyo and private academy positions nationwide. China has an abundance of lower paying teaching jobs, as well as the rest of south east asia. The debate will probably continue for the next few years, in the teaching community, korean society, and the expat community. ESL teaching will still exist in some form in korea though maybe not the same. The public school teaching program might be phased out but it will just move into the form of unregulated private academies instead. However, I would like to see more two way dialogue and input on the issue rather than two parallel debates, one in korean society and one in the expat teaching community. Until the two engage with each other nothing will be solved and the finger pointing will continue. Visit My Page on Facebook : Departures1