gdp's Comments

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #47: ATEK Answers

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:39:35 +0000

We downloaded the forms from the embassy site. One had to be translated into Korean. It's really just the same information that you have to write on multiple forms. And make sure you have all the docs/ID that it calls for.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #45: Karl and Stafford Return

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:37:46 +0000

Thanks Mike. You know what, I pretty much agree with everything you said. We discussed this a good bit on the upcoming show, even though I feel that more discussion is required. There is a lot of confusion out there, and I admit that I have been a bit confused on this. My feeling is that if this is an issue of protecting the students then background and drug checks should be done by Education and not Immigration. I'm about to enter F-series Land myself, and I had a real headache getting my criminal check here and then getting it through Immigration because of an arrest over something that was never prosecuted (they got the wrong guy). Don't want to take the risk of going through that again and having another Immigration officer determine my fate on a whim. The heart of that issue is that the whole criminal check requirement is fucked up to the core of the system. It reveals what people have been complaining about the whole time--there is no system in the system. A country is allowed to determine who gets visas to stay there. The country performs this function through a system that is consistent across the board and is not based on the whims of individual Immigration officers who are highly uninformed of their own scant regulations. I'm by nature a political junkie. It's my sport. So whenever I hear about campaigns like the Equal Checks for All, I don't take it at face value. I immediately look for the subtext and the political points one is making in doing it. I think realistically ATEK knew that the Equal Checks thing wouldn't be made into law. It wasn't made to succeed. The purpose was threefold: a.) show the Korean public that it had the children's best interest at heart rather than solely existing to benefit foreign "unqualified" English teachers, b.) anticipate attacks from critics like the hagwon associations, who already started painting ATEK as an organization set up to protect only foreign English teachers with no concern for the students and parents, and c.) use it as the jumping point to highlight the deep whimsical inconsistencies in the immigration system. It backfired. Even though Equal Checks was expected to fail as a policy issue, it was supposed to gain points as a PR issue with the general public. They didn't make the distinction that Equal Checks didn't mean equal benefits between the visa types. As for ATEK claiming to speak for all foreign English teachers, historically that's how groups like this get started. It's rhetoric. So far, though, I like what I see with ATEK. They're the closest we've had to an organization to balance the power with the hagwon associations and create something closer to equilibrium in the market. I'd rather teachers help them get off the ground now and then work from the inside to iron out the kinks--not join anti-English Spectrum and the hagwon associations in crushing it. For the past year, yes, they've only been three guys. But, damn, they really have already overcome a lot of odds and gotten the ears of government and international media--a feat that should at least be respected. Mike, keep listening and participating. We may have Tony on again next month, and I really want to hit him hard with the legitimate concerns you have. I still don't have phone-in capabilities on the show. But I don't want to turn the SeoulPodcast into the ATEK Cheerleading Squad just because of my personal politics. So please, post or send questions. Or if you want to ask him live on the show, I'm sure we could do that.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #45: Karl and Stafford Return

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:11:30 +0000

Yeah, now you know why I sat at the nerd table. I caught it in post.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #45: Karl and Stafford Return

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:10:58 +0000

I've seen those but didn't know what they were called.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #44: The Anti-anti-English Spectrum Show

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 13:43:22 +0000

I'm just too lazy to change it--for now.

ZenKimchi : VANK's Position on English-Teachers-are-Gang-Rapists TV Show

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 02:18:20 +0000

It repeats the theme we stated in Ep. 45 of the SeoulPodcast regarding the Anti-English Spectrum guys. They're not used to the idea of backing up their claims with facts. Is this rampant in the culture itself? I hear that foreign professors are frustrated by the piss poor writing abilities of their university students who can't wrap their minds around the concept of backing up their points and footnoting.

ZenKimchi : VANK's Position on English-Teachers-are-Gang-Rapists TV Show

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 01:25:04 +0000

You don't say, Kushibo? I am gleeful at the thought of VANK setting up a campaign to show why Korea is better than Prussia. The kimchi line is my favorite.

ZenKimchi : VANK's Position on English-Teachers-are-Gang-Rapists TV Show

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 01:21:50 +0000

I was going to mention that, Kevin, but it's more like an Adam Sandler repetitive punchline on early '90s Saturday Night Live skits.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #42: English Radio

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 01:00:52 +0000

And as much as I try, that's the hardest concept for me to wrap my mind around.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #44: The Anti-anti-English Spectrum Show

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 00:58:43 +0000

I'm sorry guys. Something must have happened when I was out of town. I'm uploading it again. It was working fine on Friday morning. It should be fixed now.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #44: The Anti-anti-English Spectrum Show

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 00:57:01 +0000

Hey, I laughed and cried with frustration when the 9/11 coins came out.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #44: The Anti-anti-English Spectrum Show

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 12:37:39 +0000

Try it again, Ian. I had no problems downloading it. Oh, and I use the Declan Flashcard software.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #42: English Radio

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:11:27 +0000

I'm gong to steal that last line. I love it! I do try to be more conscious of us being too negative at times. This is a country we love so deeply, and we have this overwhelming quixotic desire to want it to grow to its potential.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #43: Casualties of K-Pop Wars

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:13:27 +0000

Yeah, that's weird.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #41: Relevance of the English Media

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:08:37 +0000

Thanks. That makes sense about shaming family and friends. I also agree about the raising of certifications to get rid of the doucebags. The trouble is the reality that Korea isn't the #1 destination in mind for serious teachers because of, well, many factors. The common complaints of cheating going on in the industry is a major turn off to potential serious teachers. Pay is also not attractive compared to places like Dubai and eastern Europe.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #42: English Radio

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:58:56 +0000

This is from Galbi Jim http://wiki.galbijim.com/Juicy_Bars Juicy bars are the name given to bars that employ Korean, Russian, or Filipino girls, who will sit, drink, flirt, and frolick with you, as long as you keep buying them 'juicy drinks'. Depending on the place and time of night, juicy drinks can cost between 10,000 to 20,000 won. The role of these juicy girls is to keep you happy, horny, and buying more drinks for the establishment. If you want to go further and take the girl into the back or to a motel, its possible, but the cost of that varies. Expect no less than 100K and you can hear stories of drunk guys getting hosed for over 300K. The most popular areas to find juicy bars are around the army bases, such as Itaewon's Hooker Hill, Songtan, Camp Walker and Camp Henry in Daegu. Dongducheon has a vibrant juicy bar scene outside of Camp Casey, but the MPs have really cracked down up there and regularly threaten to place certain bars off-limits for GIs, if they suspect prostitution is going on. And as Army is big business in small little TDC, the bars usually don't mess around as much as they used to. Texas Street across from Busan Station is a popular juicy district known for its Russian women.

ZenKimchi : The Seoul Podcast is--Podcasting

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 02:27:23 +0000

sejong_at_seoulpodcast.com

SeoulPodcast : New Way to "Buy Us Beers"

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:41:37 +0000

Thanks Kevin! This upcoming show is long, but it's a good one.

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #38: The Galbi Jim

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:39:22 +0000

I just talked to Eun Jeong. Everything has to pass through her first, you know. I have a handful of bank accounts, which happens after a few years in Korea. There's one that's still there but we don't really use anymore. I could use it for in-country donations. She said there's nothing to worry about. Thanks. It never occurred to me to set up a direct deposit option. Here's the info. Kookmin Bank MCPHERSON, JOE 236901-04-055413

SeoulPodcast : SeoulPodcast #38: The Galbi Jim

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:36:06 +0000

Thanks Kevin! Dont' worry about the beer thing. Maybe I should also have like a bank account for donations inside Korea, but I'm nervous about posting an account number. Could anyone give any advice on that front?