Busan's drive for English as 'common language' rolls on despite protests

Well, just when you thought we were safe from rednecks and hillbillies
something like this pops up in the news:

Lee Keon-bum, the president of Urimal, an NGO based in Seoul's Mapo District that
promotes the use of Korean, leads an association of over 100 likeminded civic groups
from across the country. They have come together to demand Busan Metropolitan
City cancel the initiative that it claims will eventually affect use of Korean among the
city's residents.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/09/281_336195.html

The takeaways I get from this are:

1/ No wonder ESL salaries are so low.

2/ Koreans shouldn't wonder why large multinationals choose to set up shop
in places like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Nobody wants to be bogged
down negotiating laws and contracts in a language nobody knows except Koreans.

3/ This one is supposition, but I suspect these "civic groups" are made up of
permanently baffled senior citizens. They probably also oppose banning dog meat
and increasing cigarette prices.

 

Well, just when you thought we were safe from rednecks and hillbillies
something like this pops up in the news:

Lee Keon-bum, the president of Urimal, an NGO based in Seoul's Mapo District that
promotes the use of Korean, leads an association of over 100 likeminded civic groups
from across the country. They have come together to demand Busan Metropolitan
City cancel the initiative that it claims will eventually affect use of Korean among the
city's residents.

While there certainly is likely to be some jingoism involved, the underlying point- That excessive English could essentially divide things into "haves" and "have nots" is not wholly without merit.

1/ No wonder ESL salaries are so low.

How so? Because of some protest group?

2/ Koreans shouldn't wonder why large multinationals choose to set up shop
in places like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Nobody wants to be bogged
down negotiating laws and contracts in a language nobody knows except Koreans.

How exactly does this protest group="Koreans"?

3/ This one is supposition, but I suspect these "civic groups" are made up of
permanently baffled senior citizens. They probably also oppose banning dog meat
and increasing cigarette prices.

I think after the whatever of above you're getting somewhere. Mostly just old senior citizens and maybe a few younger people 20-40  who just completely bombed English (and half their other subjects) while playing Starcraft/Angry Birds/Pokemon and blame their career of CU attendant on English.

Anyways, I doubt the reaction would be much different in pretty much any other country around the world. If this happened in France or Italy or Spain, the people would likely have sacked the government offices and tarred and feathered their politicians, so all things considered, this is rather mild. I don't think you'd find too many places around the world where there wouldn't be some kind of reaction outside of maybe a few island nations and the like that are hyper-dependent on tourism and such.

I bet there's a lot of shared membership across those 100 groups. Probably the case that Donny Kim joined as a member of 61 of them, and Minjae Lee created 44 of these groups. Woorinaras always get pissy at these types of initiatives, and the newspaper likes to give them a voice because it helps generate clicks.

I bet there's a lot of shared membership across those 100 groups. Probably the case that Donny Kim joined as a member of 61 of them, and Minjae Lee created 44 of these groups. Woorinaras always get pissy at these types of initiatives, and the newspaper likes to give them a voice because it helps generate clicks.

Definitely some People's Front of Judea going on and more than likely a fair amount of the Popular Front-type stuff as well.

Urimal is too close to Urinal. But it’s the former taking the piss.

So this is where anti English spectrum disappeared to.... 

Well, lots of demand for English elsewhere, their loss if demands are caved to.  Combined with low wages and a dropping exchange rate, I suspect a lot of English teachers will jump ship anyhow.

So this is where anti English spectrum disappeared to.... 

Well, lots of demand for English elsewhere, their loss if demands are caved to.  Combined with low wages and a dropping exchange rate, I suspect a lot of English teachers will jump ship anyhow.

Is this, like............... . your thing? lol You've mentioned this a few times.

Is this, like............... . your thing? lol You've mentioned this a few times.

Actually I only replied once to this article.  Not sure what you are referrring to.  (Your imagination?)

Anti English Spectrum was a real racist group dedicated to driving foreigners out of Korea.  But they have been dormant the last several years.  It was an online hate group dedicated towards foreigners in Korea.  You can do your own research if you don't believe me.  A google search won't disappoint. 

Actually I only replied once to this article.  Not sure what you are referrring to.  (Your imagination?)

No, I just mean generally. You seem to talk about how wages are always crud and that Korea is not a great place to live anymore. That's what I mean about it being "your thing."

Like a................ schtick?

Damn, the "Anti English Spectrum" brought back some memories:

http://populargusts.blogspot.com/2017/07/anti-english-spectrum-distributes.html

Also, the Popular Gusts guy was one of my "go-to"s for a good laugh.

I think it's awfully selfish of these Korean groups not wanting to learn English like they should. Typical illegal immigrant entitled attitude.

I think it's awfully selfish of these Korean groups not wanting to learn English like they should. Typical illegal immigrant entitled attitude.

No, it's not selfish. It's stupid.

Korea GDP ranking #12
Korea ranking in foreign direct investment #29

Get it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_received_FDI

I’ll say it again for those in the back blasting bts on their earbuds KOREA DOESN’T WANT FOREIGNERS HERE.

Maybe koreans teaching English is acceptable but they don’t want outsiders living here.

Time to move on.

I’ll say it again for those in the back blasting bts on their earbuds KOREA DOESN’T WANT FOREIGNERS HERE.

Maybe koreans teaching English is acceptable but they don’t want outsiders living here.

Time to move on.

Nah, it's only the old, baffled dog-eaters that you can see swilling
makeoli and smoking cigarettes in the park at 9am that feel that
way. A lot of younger Koreans are quite happy and proud to
make this place more cosmopolitan.

which one of you mods is it that went through and deleted that comment string? it was hilarious

Glad I got to have a good read with that before the mods sanitized it.  Unfortunately, these mods aren't marketing managers and don't know what their audience is.  I guess they think that by cleaning out the active threads where people are having a good laugh (only Hangook is usually having a legitimate hissy fit) that lesson plan posters will navigate down to the discussion boards.  It isn't going to happen.  I have said this a half dozen times.  It's the terrible format of this site and its literal dozens of sub-forums.  Dave's ESL cafe discussion side is dead.  You can "borrow" their setup.  If you continue to have the Recent Activity format, the boring AF threads that Martino endlessly perpetuates will go to the top.  Always.  There is no stopping that guy.  And he hooks in Mr. C and GoGators pretty easily.  Slow burn threads always get pushed off the top.  People DON'T go look through the 36 sub-forums.  I think there are really that many. I counted once. 

Make four discussion forums and leave it at that.  Most of us can happily avoid a "Current Events" forum where Trumpism is still being discussed ad nauseum and pushed to the top of the pile.  I can read about the Ukraine War on my own.  I don't need to have military expert JVC lay it all out for me.  Streamline it and make it easier for people to find what interests them and avoid the contentious threads that some of us regulars find fun. 

Glad I got to have a good read with that before the mods sanitized it.  Unfortunately, these mods aren't marketing managers and don't know what their audience is.  I guess they think that by cleaning out the active threads where people are having a good laugh (only Hangook is usually having a legitimate hissy fit) that lesson plan posters will navigate down to the discussion boards.  It isn't going to happen.  I have said this a half dozen times.  It's the terrible format of this site and its literal dozens of sub-forums.  Dave's ESL cafe discussion side is dead.  You can "borrow" their setup.  If you continue to have the Recent Activity format, the boring AF threads that Martino endlessly perpetuates will go to the top.  Always.  There is no stopping that guy.  And he hooks in Mr. C and GoGators pretty easily.  Slow burn threads always get pushed off the top.  People DON'T go look through the 36 sub-forums.  I think there are really that many. I counted once. 

Make four discussion forums and leave it at that.  Most of us can happily avoid a "Current Events" forum where Trumpism is still being discussed ad nauseum and pushed to the top of the pile.  I can read about the Ukraine War on my own.  I don't need to have military expert JVC lay it all out for me.  Streamline it and make it easier for people to find what interests them and avoid the contentious threads that some of us regulars find fun. 

Yep, yesterday's posts had moments of high drama and hilarity.

I don't blame Koreans for wanting to keep their country for their own.  I don't blame them for not wanting to learn English.  However....Korea is gotten way too big for its britches and it would do them well to recheck their hubris.

But...whatever.  that's why folks say "just show up, do the job, collect your money and leave."  (back when the money was good, anyway).    Let them run their country...but, hopefully, that will come with a price so the U.S. does not to have to fund its protection, at some point. 

Same for Japan...let them own handle their own business.  Its time for East Asia to take care of itself. 

There is ntohing wrong with that and though that would have consequences, the U.S. needs to take care of its own house (and sweep out the garbage). 

which one of you mods is it that went through and deleted that comment string? it was hilarious

Monday is my high school day, so I come in at 9 and leave at 5. At 4.30 when it was purged the only people online were me and kyndo, and the usual suspect wasn't in sight so... 

Cleaning up every time hangook has a hissy fit is why he continues to act like a spoiled and entitled toddler.
Also, agree with everything august said.

Cleaning up every time hangook has a hissy fit is why he continues to act like a spoiled and entitled toddler.

We should be more understanding. He no longer has the reading skills necessary to adequately navigate the world. He was angry at himself. He's embarassed by the man he has become and his natural response is to lash out. A younger hangook could read up to 200 words at a time. He remembers those good old days and loses control of his emotions when he thinks about them. Of course, he won't see this post because I'm blocked. But I hope he knows I only wish the best for him.

You're right, I should be more forgiving. He just hasn't been the same since Javier left and he no longer has trysts down by the river.