Well put, eslguy.
My first experience in Korea was a good one. After teaching elsewhere, I returned and as readers know, I had the misfortune of getting sick. I will never forget my bad experience with their hospital and juducial systems. I was disgusted by the way older patients were treated. They refused to accept that people can recover from a serious, sudden illness to go on being reliable and productive employees. I knew several teachers who were shafted by their hagwons and generally, English education programs were poor. All hagwon owners seemed to care about was money. It was a horrifying experience and I advise responsible teachers to try another country.
Some say there are only two reasons to stay in Korea: money and romance. I know that English education is not one of them.