Dear U. S. Citizen Correspondent:

Thank you for your inquiry about teaching English in Korea. Because of the volume of communication we receive on this subject, we are not able to answer your letter individually. Please accept this form letter as a sincere effort to assist you as much as possible.

Due to the growing number and seriousness of problems experienced by American citizens teaching English in Korea, we counsel against taking such employment, even at reputable colleges or universities, except upon receipt of a favorable written referral from a current American citizen employee. We receive several complaints daily from Americans who came to Korea to teach English under contract with private language academies (hagwons). These are profit-oriented businesses unregulated by the Korean government. We occasionally hear complaints, as well, from employees of Korean government entities who find they suffer many of the same difficulties as hagwon employees.

Despite contract language promising good salaries, furnished apartments and other amenities, many teachers find they actually receive much less than they were promised; some do not even receive benefits required by Korean law, such as health insurance and severance pay. Teachers' complaints range from simple contract violations through non-payment of salary for months at a time, to dramatic incidents of severe sexual harassment, intimidation, threats of arrest/deportation, and physical assault.

There are literally thousands of these organizations, with new ones opening daily and existing ones changing names and management. No comprehensive record of them exists, and we cannot endorse or proscribe any based on individual complaints that we might have received. Our booklet "Teaching English in Korea; Opportunities and Pitfalls," is available by mail. It answers many of the questions posed by potential English teachers. If you would like a copy, please advise.

If you decide to accept employment here, make sure you always have either a round-trip air ticket in your possession, or sufficient funds to leave Korea when you wish. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to write or call.

Yours sincerely,

Kathryn S R Berck

Chief of American Citizens Services