Mary Choi
There are two ways to spell KOREA, and the second way is CORRUPTION.
The mayor of Busan hung himself in prison this spring because he was taking bribes. The police take bribes on the side of the road. Your elected president was removed from office, hogwan owners hire unregistered workers because THEY don't want to pay fees and taxes.
The labour offices do not uphold the law. Most contracts at hogwans and university have illegal clauses that immigration is well aware of (but do nothing). Immigration Offices get a copy of all contracts before the work permit is issued. Parents hire private teachers because they are part of this job competition madness. The 1998 IMF financial collapse was caused by banks and business in cronyism relationships. None of this is the creation of foreign ESL workers. Koreans have laws but are not inclined to follow them. You expect foreign teachers to be humble and respectful (read "broken by the schools") and ripped off when the business men are not? This place is like the Wild West and money is the law. Anyway, be realistic. Sure a lot of Koreans would like to improve things but I find they don't stand up for justice. They fear the powers that be. It is the Asian way to be passive. They all know the story of the Chinese gentleman & intellectual who was castrated because he told the truth to the Emperor. The truth was not appreciated. The truth offended the Emperor. So it is here. Mary, this is not the best way or place for you to make positive change.