Troubling news in Korea...
A lot of stuff in here, much of it not pretty... Some English teachers (and Korean friends) in Pusan put on a satirical sketch show and got busted by immigration. It's more complicated than that, but something to think about. And to share.
The Korean Herald's front page story, dateline today.
A review of the show by someone who actually saw it.
The blog of one of the writer/performer/producers.
A Korean issues blog/discussion site.
An EFL/Korean issues discussion/info site. I'm on page 14 of this particular thread, same as what's below.
Some things that, over the course of this discussion, have disturbed me:
a) Non-citizens in Korea may not have the right to free speech.
from http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ks00000_.html previously referenced by diver:
This is what applies to those of us considered foreigners. Does anyone have any information on those laws and treaties? Later on it's hard to tell if they're using 'citizen' and 'person' interchangeably, e.g.
This comes from the section dealing directly with citizenship. So are foreigners not people, or are we? Is it just a case of poor translation?
b) Government authorities' selective application of laws. Lots has been said here and elsewhere, so I'll just agree that it sucks and debases democracy and leave it.
c) The idea that legal limitations on freedom of speech (excluding military/espionage stuff) is beneficial. Although I can certainly see the short-term benefits, and hate speech and incitements to violence are kind of a gray area, I'm with animalbirdfish on this one. No disrespect intended to those who don't share my view, but I am definitely concerned about the potential for exponential erosion of such rights. I'll leave that argument with others for now though.
d) The apparent assertion by some that English teachers finding something creative to do in their free time is wrong. Just because... no, I won't go to snide personal comments, I don't know you, or why you're saying that. So why are you? Could they have planned it better? Heck yeah! Could/Should they have left out the "Immigration" sketch? Yes. Was it bone-headed to charge for it? Pretty much. Should/Could they have found out about the legal issues beforehand? Conceivably, although see point b) and consider that it generally seems very difficult to determine what is illegal and what isn't until someone gets in trouble and the issue gets discussed here or somewhere similar. Is it wrong for them to work on a creative project together and put together a play/sketch show? Heck no! Not unless you truly believe that someone, even someone living in a foreign country, is no more than what they're paid for. Do you? For those of you who don't have any creative outlet (if you exist): What do you do in your free time? What drives you in life?
e) The suggestion that foreigners in Korea shouldn't expose Koreans to outside ideas. Certainly no one should be forcing their ideas down anyone's throat. There's also a lot I can learn about how to think and behave by immersing myself in a different culture, it's one of many reasons I love traveling. That said I do feel a responsibility to accurately represent my worldview and life experience and, as best I can, those of other "Westerners" to those Koreans who demonstrate an interest, implicit or explicit, in the rest of the world. Also, even though I disagree with most current US gov't policy, I feel at least a limited, educational responsibility to correct unfair/unjustified attacks and/or misrepresentations of my country, its peoples, or its cultures. Finally, if there's something that I see as fundamentally wrong with a system, I do see it as my responsibility to work towards changing it. Maybe not directly, never harshly, maybe just through sharing what I believe to be a better way, but just as I am shaped by my environment, I will shape it in return. Even if I try not to.
f) The misconception that Koreans alone should be responsible for satirizing their country and culture. They do need to take a good long hard look at their country, culture, and customs, if only for the purposes of greater self-understanding and -reflection. Humor will certainly aid in this process, and I have no doubt tha Korean minds set to the task will accomplish a lot. Even so, outside perspectives invariably expand dialogue. There are things foreigners will see that Koreans won't.
Besides which, Koreans were involved! Unfortunately I haven't seen it myself, but it seems like there were willing Korean participants in both the film and the sketches. It sounds like a good number of the Koreans in the audience enjoyed themselves, even if it was mostly at the expense of the performers. This isn't exactly a popular uprising for a free exchange of ideas, but as this issue continues to gain press (and I hope it will), I'll be very curious to see how Koreans respond. Sure, there'll probably be a lot of people who want the actors kicked out of the country. But I wouldn't be surprised if a fair number think this is ridiculous, at least not if a reasonably balanced depiction of events gets into the Korean language newsmedia. (We can hope.) Is there anyone out there keeping track of the Korean language side of this debate and willing to break it down for those of us currently lacking the requiste hankukmal skills?
g) The amount of cynicism, jade, and sheer, petty meanness from some posters. I've got enough experience w/ EFL and Dave's that I'm no longer surprised, but it's still awfully depressing.
And dudes, unless you know something and are willing to come out with it, cut the Captain a break. He seems to me like a decent guy, interested in a serious discussion about an issue that could affect a lot of foreigners here. Until proven otherwise, treat it as that. Real argumentation is great, but quit with the useless personal attacks.
In any case, I look forward to seeing how this progresses and is resolved. And to gradual change. Maybe even for the better.
_________________
It would be nice to be funny, but odds are someone would take offense. Therefore please take my seriousness ironically. Ha. Ha.
a) Non-citizens in Korea may not have the right to free speech.
from http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/ks00000_.html previously referenced by diver:
| Quote: |
| Article 6 [Treaties, Foreigners] (1) Treaties duly concluded and promulgated under the Constitution and the generally recognized rule of international law have the same effect as the domestic laws of the Republic of Korea. (2) The status of foreigners is guaranteed as prescribed by international law and treaties. |
This is what applies to those of us considered foreigners. Does anyone have any information on those laws and treaties? Later on it's hard to tell if they're using 'citizen' and 'person' interchangeably, e.g.
| Quote: |
| Article 12 [Personal Liberty, Personal Integrity] (1) All citizens enjoy personal liberty. No person may be arrested, detained, searched, seized, or interrogated except as provided by law. No person may be punished, placed under preventive restrictions, or subject to involuntary labor except as provided by law and through lawful procedures. (2) No citizens may be tortured or be compelled to testify against himself in criminal cases. |
This comes from the section dealing directly with citizenship. So are foreigners not people, or are we? Is it just a case of poor translation?
b) Government authorities' selective application of laws. Lots has been said here and elsewhere, so I'll just agree that it sucks and debases democracy and leave it.
c) The idea that legal limitations on freedom of speech (excluding military/espionage stuff) is beneficial. Although I can certainly see the short-term benefits, and hate speech and incitements to violence are kind of a gray area, I'm with animalbirdfish on this one. No disrespect intended to those who don't share my view, but I am definitely concerned about the potential for exponential erosion of such rights. I'll leave that argument with others for now though.
d) The apparent assertion by some that English teachers finding something creative to do in their free time is wrong. Just because... no, I won't go to snide personal comments, I don't know you, or why you're saying that. So why are you? Could they have planned it better? Heck yeah! Could/Should they have left out the "Immigration" sketch? Yes. Was it bone-headed to charge for it? Pretty much. Should/Could they have found out about the legal issues beforehand? Conceivably, although see point b) and consider that it generally seems very difficult to determine what is illegal and what isn't until someone gets in trouble and the issue gets discussed here or somewhere similar. Is it wrong for them to work on a creative project together and put together a play/sketch show? Heck no! Not unless you truly believe that someone, even someone living in a foreign country, is no more than what they're paid for. Do you? For those of you who don't have any creative outlet (if you exist): What do you do in your free time? What drives you in life?
e) The suggestion that foreigners in Korea shouldn't expose Koreans to outside ideas. Certainly no one should be forcing their ideas down anyone's throat. There's also a lot I can learn about how to think and behave by immersing myself in a different culture, it's one of many reasons I love traveling. That said I do feel a responsibility to accurately represent my worldview and life experience and, as best I can, those of other "Westerners" to those Koreans who demonstrate an interest, implicit or explicit, in the rest of the world. Also, even though I disagree with most current US gov't policy, I feel at least a limited, educational responsibility to correct unfair/unjustified attacks and/or misrepresentations of my country, its peoples, or its cultures. Finally, if there's something that I see as fundamentally wrong with a system, I do see it as my responsibility to work towards changing it. Maybe not directly, never harshly, maybe just through sharing what I believe to be a better way, but just as I am shaped by my environment, I will shape it in return. Even if I try not to.
f) The misconception that Koreans alone should be responsible for satirizing their country and culture. They do need to take a good long hard look at their country, culture, and customs, if only for the purposes of greater self-understanding and -reflection. Humor will certainly aid in this process, and I have no doubt tha Korean minds set to the task will accomplish a lot. Even so, outside perspectives invariably expand dialogue. There are things foreigners will see that Koreans won't.
Besides which, Koreans were involved! Unfortunately I haven't seen it myself, but it seems like there were willing Korean participants in both the film and the sketches. It sounds like a good number of the Koreans in the audience enjoyed themselves, even if it was mostly at the expense of the performers. This isn't exactly a popular uprising for a free exchange of ideas, but as this issue continues to gain press (and I hope it will), I'll be very curious to see how Koreans respond. Sure, there'll probably be a lot of people who want the actors kicked out of the country. But I wouldn't be surprised if a fair number think this is ridiculous, at least not if a reasonably balanced depiction of events gets into the Korean language newsmedia. (We can hope.) Is there anyone out there keeping track of the Korean language side of this debate and willing to break it down for those of us currently lacking the requiste hankukmal skills?
g) The amount of cynicism, jade, and sheer, petty meanness from some posters. I've got enough experience w/ EFL and Dave's that I'm no longer surprised, but it's still awfully depressing.
And dudes, unless you know something and are willing to come out with it, cut the Captain a break. He seems to me like a decent guy, interested in a serious discussion about an issue that could affect a lot of foreigners here. Until proven otherwise, treat it as that. Real argumentation is great, but quit with the useless personal attacks.
In any case, I look forward to seeing how this progresses and is resolved. And to gradual change. Maybe even for the better.
_________________
It would be nice to be funny, but odds are someone would take offense. Therefore please take my seriousness ironically. Ha. Ha.
posted by Colin at 2:14 PM
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