Jon, can you tell me what to expect in Korea? Can you give me a few tips on what you liked and disliked?

Jon, tell me about your students, likes, dislikes.

Jon, why did you create this Blacklist ?

Why did you make the Greenlist?

Why does your Blacklist have so many submissions compared to your Greenlist?

I am now in Korea and have a story to tell which I feel would benefit others. Would you post it?

Would you like to trade links ? Linkbacks will benefit us both.

How accurate are these listings?

Is it true that you are making lots of money off this list?

A recruiter has screwed me. Can you blacklist them?

Jon, I have been told that I need to pay into some type of Korean Social Security or Korean pension fund. Do I have to? Is this legal?

My employer and I have a written contract, yet he broke it. What are my legal rights?

I got a job offer in Korea. What now?

What questions should I ask to the place which I am considering working at?

I am prevented from contacting the school directly and / or speaking to a foreigner of equal status. What should I do now?

I am looking to take a year off and have lots of fun. Do you think I should work in Korea?

Why should I submit to the Greenlist / Blacklist?

Should I post my real name or e-mail on these lists for everyone to see?

If I submit to the Blacklist / Greenlist, can I later retract it?

I am the director of a language school which you have Blacklisted. Everything written about my school is damn false, filled with lies, and I demand it be removed !!

Where is a good place to work in Korea. Have you any recommendations?

I am considering working at school XYZ located in Korea. Do you know anything about it?

I read your answer to this FAQ, but disagree and / or like to add to something you wrote. Can I suggest something to add to it?

I am now in Korea and would like to contribute to the Greenlist / Blacklist.













Jon, can you tell me what to expect in Korea? Can you give me a few tips what you liked and disliked?



Everyone has their own opinion on this. I will list two items of likes and dislike. Culturally I found Korean people very friendly. Also I very much enjoy authentic Korean food, which is wonderfully spicy. I would say perhaps my biggest difficulty was the pollution. I am more sensative than most with bad allergies, and the pollution levels would just zap the strength out of me. Winters too were bitter cold, and while in Pusan the wind would just wip right through me. Also, Korea can be a surprisingly expensive.





Jon, tell me about your students, likes, dislikes.



Everyone has a different story to tell. In my case, at the university I worked at, I found many were truly passionate about learning English, and found it amazing the extent a few of my students would go to in order to get an education. A few would actually stay, and sleep during the freezing winters on the cold campus hallways - in order to save money on housing, while commute home over weekends. Many had real heart, were kind, and I am in touch with a few of them to this very day.

Perhaps my greatest gripe was the fact that (when I worked there) about 90 percent of my male students smoked -- American cigaretts. Apparently, vending machines were placed on or very near the High School campus which sold American cigarettes, and many students told me they smoked since before the age of 13 years old (and hence, they would be probably lifetime addicts).





Jon, why did you create this Blacklist ?

In 1995 I first went to work in Korea, and I really went blind, so to speak. Although my personal experiences were overwhelmingly positive, I considered myself lucky. Most internationals I met had difficult situations, and disorganization was the norm. After I left Korea, I felt it an obligation to warn others of possible pitfalls in Korea, should things go wrong as they often do. Even on my the flight home from Seoul to the States I met a woman whose situation was so bad that she did a 'midnight run' back. I decided at that time to create this listing. The first posting to the Blacklist was around 1997.





Why did you make the Greenlist?



Someone made the suggestion and it an excellent one. Suggestions to improve this page are always welcome.





Why does your Blacklist have so many submissions compared to your Greenlist?



I have no control who submits what. That more people have submitted to the Blacklist than the Greenlist I find most unfortunate. Personally, I hope more people do tell of their positive experiences in Korea.





I am now in Korea and have a story to tell which I feel would benefit others. Would you post it?



Yes, please do. It would be most welcome.





Would you like to trade links ? Linkbacks will benefit us both.




I get this a constantly. I guesstimate that 90 percent of these requests I turn down. If you charge money for your service, with nearly no exception the answer is no. If you are outside the ESL genre, the answer again is no. Generally I link to help those who do not charge for their information or to sites which will benefit others. If you look at the ESL page, and have a link which is similar to those there, then please contact.





How accurate are the listings?



This document is for informational purposes only, and there is absolutely no claim to its accuracy, rather it is only the opinion of those individuals who have shared their stories.

In other words, everything in this document is complete fiction, except for that which is not.





Is it true that you are making lots of money off this list?



No, I have not earned a dime. Speaking bluntly, I have thought about taking it down, because it is very time consuming without much reward. However, as long as people find this list helpful, it shall remain.





A recruiter has screwed me. Can you blacklist them?



I have gotten countless e-mails like this. At the present I do not blacklist recruiters. Personally I would assume they are all bad and would not trust any of them.





Jon, I have been told that I need to pay into some type of Korean Social Security or Korean pension fund. Do I have to? Is this legal?



This began back around 1994, when I worked there. As I understand it, the Korean government at that time began to require all national companies to force X-pats to pay into this, just as the Koreans do. This was in response to the fact that when Koreans X-pats worked in America for even a few years, that they too were forced to pay into the US social security and pension plan, even though they would not see a dime of it. In spite of requests of the Korean government for the US government to change this, America would not, so the Korean government replied in kind.

Yes, I paid this too, and the only way to get your money back is if you work in Korea for the 20 plus years needed to receive a full Korean pension. Well, be grateful that your employer is probably legally on the up-and-up.





My employer and I have a written contract, yet he broke it. What are my legal rights?



Here there is a cultural disconnect. Unfortunately, often times the written contract means little compared to the spoken word. In addition, you may expect that many items in your contact constantly up for renegotiation, such as when to teach, how to teach, etc, and this can be very frustrating for the foreigner who is more used to following the written contract. Legally, you the foreigner have between little and no legal recourse.





I got a job offer in Korea. What now?



Personally, I advise making a long-distance call / skype and contact the school directly. I'd really listen to a lesser degree what the head of the program, whether Korean or foreigner, has to say. Many of these people are nothing but sleazebags. The most important person you need to speak to is your colleague who is a foreigner of equal status as yourself. This person is most likely (but no guarantees however) to tell you the real story as what is going on there.





What questions should I ask to the place which I am considering working at?



Here is a starter list of questions which may help get a feel for the place. I need to emphasize that this list is only a general guideline, and will probably not fit everyone's needs.



I am prevented from contacting the school directly and / or speaking to a foreigner of equal status. What should I do now?



Huge red flag there. Personally I would find another place of employment. And no, do not trust the recruiter's assurances.





I am looking to take a year off and have lots of fun. Do you think I should work in Korea?



No!!! A person goes to work in Korea for one reason only: To work. The Koreans themselves often work very hard, and they will expect the same from you. If you are not prepared to work hard in Korea, then you will have a miserable time there.





Why should I submit to the Greenlist / Blacklist?



To tell your story, whether good or bad. Others need to know, and can learn from you. I can only guarantee exposure to potentially thousands of readers.





Should I post my real name or e-mail on these lists for everyone to see?



I advise you do not. No longer will any e-mail addresses be allowed, unless the author specifically requests otherwise.





If I submit to the Blacklist / Greenlist, can I later retract it?



Yes you may. I do keep careful records of who submits what, name and e-mail address. I need verify that you are who you claim you are.





I am the director of a language school which you have Blacklisted. Everything written about my school is damn false, filled with lies, and I demand it be removed !!



Yes, as stated above, everything on these pages are complete fiction. I did not write the post, and have no right to take it down. However if you like, you may give a response to what was written, and that too will be posted. Indeed, that is the glory of free speech.





Where is a good place to work in Korea. Have you any recommendations?



I left Korea back 1995 and only returned a few times to visit friends and / or attend conferences. Honestly I have absolutely no idea.

And asking the same question twice or three times will not change my answer.

Really !!





I am considering working at school XYZ located in Korea. Do you know anything about it?



As stated above, I have absolutely no idea. I would suggest you do your own research into the company via the guidelines as stated above.





I read your answer to this FAQ, but disagree and / or like to add to something you wrote with what was said. Can I suggest something to add to it?



Yes, and please contact me.





I am now in Korea and would like to contribute to the Greenlist / Blacklist.



If you know of a school that should added to either list, then please contact me. Also, if you have time please do visit your local Consulate or Embassy and get their blacklist -- so we can post it to help others too. If you desire, I will post a link to your page with your Greenlist / Blacklist contribution.