Surviving Korea

Akbayang Pinay

2013-04-16T22:11:00.001+09:00

I came to Korea as a graduate student of Korean studies and by the time I got married with my long time Korean boyfriend I already knew a handful about Korea's history, culture, language, and the Korean people. However, the knowledge I had about Korea was not enough (not even close) to help me survive my new life in Korea.

As an exchange student, Koreans would admire you for the courage that you possess to study the history and culture of Korea and they would praise you even more for being able to speak Korean (Korean language is considered as one of the most difficult languages to learn...the older Korean generation would say that only SMART foreigners could actually learn and speak Korean....kkkk). But things changed when I became Mrs. Jeon, suddenly I felt like I was being forced to become a Korean in every way to the extent of ignoring where I came from. The government programs offered for marriage immigrants where all designed to help foreign spouses adjust to the Korean way of married life but no program was made available for the Korean husbands that would help them understand the way their foreign wives think and feel. It seemed like foreign spouses were only given one choice, become a Korean and ignore your place of origin....that's the only way you can survive Korea. But that's not the way things work, a successful marriage is a two way street, a couple should learn to understand each other, their feelings, their frustrations. Unfortunately in Korea, only the foreign spouse was forced to understand and adjust to the Korean way while the Korean husband just watched and observed without feeling the need to understand his wife's background.

Some people I know would say that I had a hard time adjusting in Korea and I would agree with that but not because I refuse to embrace the changes that surrounded me. I had a hard time adjusting because the things I imagined Korea would be as stated in Korean history books and as explained by my professors in graduate school became the opposite as I actually experience my so-called life in Korea. It was difficult to accept the fact that after being amazed about the history and culture of Korea, the mystery and passion for learning about Korea suddenly disappeared as soon as I got married with a Korean man not because of the man that I married but because of the society that swallowed me in their perfect concept of a homogeneous society.

Despite being able to know a lot of things about Korea before I became Mrs. Jeon, I still experienced hardships that caused me depression at some point. Depression that could have been prevented if I had a support group that could assist me with my new found life in Korea. A support group wherein one could share their experiences and expertise about living in Korea. This idea is something that I discussed endlessly with my close friend Myla. We would often talk about it for hours but since we were in a stage wherein our duties as stay-at-home moms came first, the idea stayed as an IDEA for years.

But it didn't stay that way for long, because on January 2013 we finally had the courage to spearhead a volunteer group that will help Filipina marriage immigrants in Uijeongbu, Yangju, and Dongducheon areas in Gyeonggi Province. The volunteer group we started was named AKABAYANG PINAY. The word "akbayan" comes from the Filipino word that means to put one's arm around another's shoulder as a sign of support or camaraderie while "Pinay" is a word that Filipinos use to refer to Filipinas.

Akbayang Pinay is an organization that aims to unite and support Filipinas married to Koreans. The group was formed to foster closer ties among the families of Filipinas married to Koreans by encouraging better understanding of the Philippines, its culture, history, and its people. Akbayang Pinay also intends to act as a bridge in bringing the Filipino marriage immigrants closer to the community by supporting the government’s efforts in integrating multicultural families in Korean society.

Akbayang Pinay is relatively a newbie in this field but the support we got from our members, officers, and the community has been nothing but overwhelming. Together with our families and friends we are all working together in achieving the goals of Akbayang Pinay. It may take us years before our group could really be recognized all over Korea but we are to willing to work on it and with the kind of members that we have I know we are not aiming for the impossible. We may not have enough funds to start with, but we voluntarily contribute our resources so that we could see our projects completed as planned. We do hope that someday we could get enough resources from the government, non-governmental organizations and private institutions so that we could support more Filipinas married to Koreans.

If you are a Filipina married to a Korean in Uijeongbu, Yangju, and Dongducheon we invite you to become a member of Akbayang Pinay. You can send us email at akbayangpinay@yahoo.com or you can find Akbayang Pinay's facebook page. Let's help each other adjust to life in Korea.

Increasing tension between North and South Korea

2013-03-26T21:37:00.001+09:00

* The recent declaration of North Korea for a combat-ready posture is alarming the mom in me again. I've been closely monitoring the development of this tension and honestly I'm at a point wherein I'm starting to think about making our get-away bags ready again. Although I'm worried about the situation, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed....I hope things won't escalate any more.

Korea Herald: N.K. puts artillery in combat-ready posture

North Korea on Tuesday put into “combat-ready posture” its missile and artillery units that are capable of striking South Korea, the U.S. and other “hostile targets,” its state media said.

“The Supreme Command is putting all of its field artillery including strategic rocket units and long-range artillery units into the No. 1 combat-ready posture,” the top command said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

The statement enumerated specific targets such as the U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Guam and other U.S. bases in the Pacific region, not to mention South Korea.

“No. 1 combat-ready posture” has never before been mentioned in the North’s media reports. Seoul officials said the posture appeared to mean the highest level of combat readiness, noting that no unusual North Korean military movements were detected yet.

“Compared to the South Korean military, the highest combat readiness means you put live ammo in your equipment and put yourself in full gear, and put soldiers in their positions,” a military source said, declining to be named.

Seoul’s Defense Ministry said that it was keeping closer tabs on North Korean movements, stressing that any provocations would be met with strong retaliation.

Referring to the B-25 strategic bomber the U.S. had flown over the peninsula during recent maneuvering drills, the command’s statement said it would show off its military’s and people’s resolve to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and highest dignity “through actual military action.”

“Our ‘crystal clear judgment’ is that we cannot overlook the intimidating reality any longer as the U.S. nuclear threats and blackmailing spread into real action,” the statement said.

The statement came a day after Pyongyang staged a national military exercise on its east coast apparently in a show of force against the South Korean and U.S. combined forces that have recently signed a joint counter-provocation plan.

Seoul’s Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin has said that South Korea would launch a counterstrike, if provoked, not only at the origin of the provocation, but also forces supporting it and its commanders.

This counter-provocation guideline by Kim was said to have been reflected in the allies’ new contingency plan signed last Friday.

Jeung Young-tae, senior research fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification, said that through the highest readiness posture, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to bring his people together and strengthen his military leadership.

“Kim moves around the military installations while showing off his post of the top military commander. Through such activities, he also seeks to instill an image of a strong leader into his people,” he said.

“Should the tension lead to an opening of talks with the U.S., Kim might be seen as having made the U.S. surrender and could cast himself as a successful military leader.”

Jeung, however, said Seoul should prepare for possible provocations.

“Amid this military readiness, (Kim) might think that there is a need to show something in realistic terms. There could be missile launches or an artillery attack or other such kinds of limited, low-intensity provocations,” he said.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)

Communication for a Brighter Future in Korea

2013-02-28T09:14:00.002+09:00

* I got a request from a dear friend to blog about this contest. So here it goes, I hope you guys will join for the fun part of it and of course for the nice prize that goes with it .....kkkkk.

Communicating for a Brighter Future of Korea

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) is holding a communication contest with the topic of “Communicating for a Brighter Future of Korea.” The winner will be entitled to participate at the 4^th Culture Communication Forum (CCF) on September 3-5, 2013 in Seoul as the Korean/foreign youth representative to discuss cultural themes together with world renowned cultural experts from Korea and abroad.

■ Contest Outline

▪ Application deadline: March 29,2013

▪ Announcement of finalists: 14:00, April 5,2013

The announcement will be posted on our website at www.coreaimage.org

▪ Final round: 13:30, April 13, 2013

Location: Seoul Museum (201 Buam-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul)

-Participants: Koreans and non-Koreans under the age of 35

-Contest language: Korean

▪ Application method:

1) Submit the attached application

2) Your original idea in one of the following formats

1. Essay: Less than 2 pages (font size 11)

2. Video clip: less than 4 minutes, WMV/MPEG file format

3. Singing a song: less than 4 minutes, WAV/MP3 file format

4. For any other formats, please contact us

E-mail address: bureau@coreaimage.org, cici@coreaimage.org

■ Contest Details

The theme of the contest is “Communicating for a Brighter Future of Korea.”

Choose only ONE of the following topics. Finalists must deliver their presentation in Korean.

1) What is the significance of the hallyu, the Korean Wave including K-pop and Korean drama? In your opinion, what other aspect of Korean culture can drive the next phase of the Korean wave? Why do you think that the aspect of Korean culture you chose will communicate well with the world? Use images, video or statistics to explain your position.

2) In your opinion, what will be the new keyword that will symbolize Korea for the rest of the world in 2013? Why do you think so? How can this keyword be promoted around the world?

3) In Korea, “multiculturalism” is often equated with Southeast Asian immigrants. If you were a scholar studying multiculturalism or a public official in charge of multicultural affairs, what could you do to change this perception? Give specific examples.

■Prizes

▪ 1^st Place: 3 million won

OR cash prize and a present of equivalent value

(for example, 2,000,000 won and a flight ticket)

▪ 2^nd Place: 2 million won

OR cash prize and a present of equivalent value

▪ 3^rd Place: 1 million won

OR cash prize and a present of equivalent value

▪ Participation Prize: 500,000 won or a present of equivalent value

▪ Popularity Prize: 300,000 won or a present of equivalent value

*All participants who reach the final round will receive a souvenir.

For further information,

call 02-424-0049 OR bureau@coreaimage.org, cici@coreaimage.org

Hosted by Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI)

Organized by: Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI),

Communication Strategy Institute (CSI)

*****Click the link to download the application form

KOREA TIMES: 2 brothers killed in apt. noise feud

2013-02-12T11:02:00.000+09:00

* Not only daughter-in-laws suffer from holiday stress in Korea but neighbors as well, so this article will reflect the violence that resulted from holiday stress. One thing is for sure I don't want to be in this situation at all.

2 brothers killed in apt. noise feud

Shown above are the remains of a house burnt down in a fire set by a 49-year-old neighbor in a dispute over noise allegedly made by the residents of the burnt house. / Yonhap

Suspect in rage stabbing flees and remains at large

By Kim Jae-won

A number of fatal incidents took place during the Seollal holiday.

Two brothers in their 30s were stabbed to death in a feud with a neighbor during their Seollal visit to the parents’ apartment in Myeonmok-dong, northeastern Seoul, Saturday.

The police said Monday that a 45-year-old man surnamed Kim allegedly stabbed and killed the two brothers during a quarrel over noise then fled the scene.

The murder suspect went to the home of the parents of the two brothers on Saturday night in order to complain about excessive noise — an ongoing source of dispute between the two families.

After becoming enraged, Kim allegedly stabbed the two brothers who were later found by the apartment janitor. They died while being rushed to hospital.

The younger brother, aged 30, married two months ago. The holiday period was the first visit the newly-weds had made to his parents.

The elder brother, aged 32, was the father of a three-year-old daughter.

In a separate incident, police said they will seek an arrest warrant for a man who allegedly set fire to a neighbor’s home on Sunday after another dispute over noise and leaking water.

According to Yangcheon District Police Department in western Seoul, a 49-year-old man surnamed Park set fire to his neighbor’s home using a bottle filled with oil. During the fire, six members of the family, including homeowner Hong, 67, and his two-year-old granddaughter, were hurt and taken to hospital.

The fire was extinguished after most of the house was burned down. The damages from the fire were estimated at 21 million won, the police said.

Park was apprehended on site by residents and handed over to the police. Police said that Park had been in an ongoing feud with Hong over the last four years after losing a compensation lawsuit over the issue of leaking water.

Park is currently undergoing questioning but has refused to speak during the interrogation.

Another family’s holiday also turned to tragedy. On Saturday morning, a 15-year-old girl surnamed Kim was killed in an accident, after the car she was in hit an embankment in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.

Kim was one of six teenagers in the car which was driven by her 19-year-old cousin. The other five were also injured. The police said the accident appeared to be the result of driver error.

Eating and drinking during the holidays also caused the death of a number of people. A 57-year-old man was found dead on Saturday after choking while eating rice cakes at the home of a friend in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province.

Another man aged 53 and surnamed Hwang, in Naju, South Jeolla Province, also died after drinking too much alcohol, which resulted in him having breathing difficulties and rendered him unconscious.

Rescuers attempted emergency treatment, but failed to resuscitate him, according to the police.

shosta@ktimes.co.kr,

KOREA TIMES: Daughters-in-law vs. mothers-in-law

2013-02-10T23:16:00.001+09:00

* This is a very interesting article in time for the Korean Lunar New Year. I do agree with the part wherein one daughter-in-law said that's it's not the stress about doing housechores, it's the stress of being with the in-laws that gives me headaches and anxiety attacks. However, I must admit the stress did lessen when I finally had my 2 little boys because I have less time to think or feel bad about the things that goes around me. Well, that's life for a daughter-in-law in Korea.

Daughters-in-law vs. mothers-in-law

The daughter-in-law, is portrayed by Kim Nam-joo, and the mother-in-law portrayed by Yun Yeo-jeong. / Courtesy of KBS

Wives forced into ‘temporary slavery’ during holidays

The 2012 KBS drama “My Husband Got a Family” dealt with the frustrating relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law.

By Do Je-hae

Around this time of year, daughters-in-law around the country start to panic as they travel to their mothers-in-law’s house to feed and serve their husbands' family members, even dead ones, through the ritual called "charae."

Major holidays continue to be a cause of stress and anger for many housewives in Korea. For them, the Lunar New Year holidays entail an endless series of kitchen chores that husbands rarely help with.

"Holidays are when many housewives in Korea are made to feel like maids," said a 35-year-old mother of a girl toddler who preferred to remain anonymous. "During the years I have been married, it never occurred to me to have some time to myself or take a vacation during the 'myeongjeol’ (holiday) season."

Like every year since 2009, she will travel with her family to be with her mother-in-law for the Lunar New Year. Unlike many Korean families, her in-laws do not practice charae, a ceremony that involves bowing to deceased ancestors and offering food and drink prepared for their spirits. But this doesn't mean her time with the in-laws is stress-free.

"During the holidays, I feel an unbearable amount of pressure. Even without charae, I have to prepare all the meals during family gatherings. It's not easy trying to make huge meals in another person's kitchen."

One housewife The Korea Times spoke to said she feels sick because of the stress she endures around this time of the year and other major holidays such as Chuseok. She said that she normally starts having panic attacks and headaches a few weeks before the holidays begin.

The mother of two girls, aged 6 and 7, in Mok-dong, Seoul, also spoke on the condition of anonymity. She deplored the misfortune of having in-laws from some of the most conservative parts of the country in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.

"For the first three years of marriage, I traveled to Gimcheon for the holidays and did what I was told to do, without feeling much resentment," the 40-year-old stay-at-home mom said. "But then as the years went by, I started to feel an uncontrollable sense of anger. These holiday visits are a huge waste of time and money, but unless I intend to divorce my husband, these visits are an indispensable activity in our marriage," A former journalist with the economic daily Money Today, she has been married since 2004.

"It's not so much the kitchen chores that make it so hard. It's the stress that I feel when I am with my husband's mother and his siblings," she said.

Normally, the Daegu native is forced into the kitchen the minute she arrives at her mother-in-law's house, making heaps of “jeon” (traditional Korean pancake) and other holiday dishes for family meals and charae. In addition, she has to make side dishes for drinks that the male members of the family invariably will have after dinner and clean up after all the meals.

It was interesting that while these housewives were willing to speak frankly about their experiences as "holiday maids," they were fearful of having their names printed in the newspaper.

"Speaking ill of the in-laws is like spitting on my own face because they are people I have chosen as my family. That's why in many cases, housewives will not openly speak ill of them."

One housewife who did give her name had somewhat of a traditional view of a women's holiday duties.

Cheon Yeong-hye, 35, said that she would teach her three girls to be mindful of what it means to be a daughter-in-law.

The banker plans to visit her mother-in-law in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, for the holidays.

"Usually my mother-in-law prepares most of the holiday meals and I usually just clean up afterwards. Because I grew up in the conservative Gyeongang Province, I don't harbor much resentment about these kinds of activities," the mother of three girls said.

"Korea isn’t a country that respects daughter-in-laws. But I would still urge my girls to fulfill their basic duties of a daughter-in-law and refrain from placing personal comfort before family duty."

So how do mothers-in-law feel about all this?

"Daughters-in-law are a part of my family and I want all family members to take part in the holiday celebrations," Yoo In-sook, 65, said. "There is no rule that says they absolutely have to visit during the holidays. But ideally, a woman should perceive myeongjeol duties as a part of her obligation as a daughter-in-law."

The holiday stress is in some cases so extreme that it sometimes leads to divorce.

A new term "myeongjeol divorce" has been circulating in the media, referring to the rise in divorce rates in February and March following the Lunar New Year holidays.

jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr

JOB VACANCY: Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines

2013-02-04T15:58:00.001+09:00

*Reposting from the website of the Korean Embassy in the Philippines,

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines is looking for skilled and motivated individuals to fill the following positions:

CLASS COORDINATOR

Qualifications:

1. Male or Female, not more than 35 years of age;

2. Bachelor or higher degree from a reputable University;

3. Preferably with experience in administrative work or class coordination;

4. Fluency in English and Filipino;

5. Ability to use Microsoft Office programs and basic office machines, and familiarity with the internet for research purposes is required;

EVENTS COORDINATOR

Qualifications:

1. Male or Female not more than 35 years of age;

2. Bachelor or higher degree from a reputable University;

3. Preferably with experience in coordinating and organizing cultural events;

4. Fluency in English and Filipino;

5. Ability to use Microsoft Office programs and familiarity with the internet for research purposes is required;

Please send your curriculum vitae / resume (that includes personal background, education, work experience and a photo taken within three months) by email not later than 7 February 2013. Please specify which position you are applying for.

Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Email Address: director@kccphil.org

Government support for stay-at-home MOMS and kids who are not attending daycare

2013-01-28T10:12:00.000+09:00

*Good news for stay-at-home MOMS who are caring for their kids at home. The government has re-instated the financial support program for kids who are not attending daycare and the program will take effect this coming March. For children ages (I'm talking of international age and not Korean age) 0-11 months 200,000 won, 1yr old -150,000 won, 2-5yrs old 100,000 won. For more information please consult your local district office (동사무서 dong-sa-mu-so) or http://www.bokjiro.go.kr.

Registration for this program 양육수당/보육류 officially starts on February 4,2013 at 9am.
Requirements: Identification card of parents and a copy of one of the parent's bank book

양육비

Scholarship in Korea for Spring 2013

2013-01-24T16:51:00.001+09:00

Wireless and Mobile Communication System (WMCS) LAB is recruiting applicants who are interested in the admission of (MS, PhD, and integrated Master’s & PhD Program) graduate course in Korea (2013 Spring).

Wireless and Mobile Communication System (WMCS) Laboratory of Chosun university, Korea, conducts theoretical and experimental study of wireless networks and multimedia communication by integrating various kinds of communication technologies and network protocols, and evaluating their performances. Currently, we are concerned on protocols and QoS control over wireless sensor network, wireless mesh network, mobile WiMAX, and so on.

* Language requirement : English fluency
(TOEFL PBT 550, CBT210, IBT 80, IELTS 6.5 or higher)
* Academic background : 1. Degree on Electronics or Computer science engineering
2. grades/marks/score of 85% or higher from the previous attended institution
* Research support (if you’re qualified for the following scholarship programs)
- Scholarship programs
1. KGSP (http://www.niied.go.kr)
2. Global IT scholarship program
- Chousn university provides dormitory accessibility.
- All research facilities are supported such as computers, simulation tools, and experiment environment.

* Application schedule of Chosun university, Korea, is found here :
(http://global.chosun.ac.kr/admission)

Please contact me with your C.V, Transcript, and English score if you’re interested.

* Contact : WMCS LAB (http://ubicom.chosun.ac.kr), Prof. Jae-Young Pyun (jypyun@chosun.ac.kr) in Chosun university, Korea

Immigration Fees Change

2013-01-22T11:37:00.000+09:00

* Reposting from the Korea Immigration website.

*** NOTICE ***

Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice has 2 announcements regarding online service fees, alien registration card and certificate of residence issuance fees.

1. Korea Immigration Service currently provides online services through the Hi-Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) website.

The online service is being made available in order to address problems of inconveniences and confusion caused by high volume in-person visits.

-Beginning on January 1^st , 2013 a 10% discount will be applied to all extension of stay and re-entry permit fees for applicants applying for extensions and re-entry online.

This service expansion is the Ministry of Justice’s effort to improve the effectiveness of the online immigration services.

2. Increase in issuance fees. Beginning on January 1^st , 2013 the Alien Registration Card Fee and the Certificate of Residence Fee will be increased

from 10,000 won to 20,000 won.

The current issuance fee was implanted in 1998. At that time it was increased from 5,000 won to 10,000 won. The Ministry of Justice has determined these newly increased fees necessary to strengthen the security of alien registration cards. The increase in fees, also reflect an increase in labor costs and current inflation

KOREA TIMES: Teenagers embrace multiracial families

2013-01-16T10:33:00.001+09:00

* It's a good thing the younger generation are becoming more open to the concept of MULTICULTURALISM, but I do hope the oldies will start making room for changes in Korean society as well. I do like the last part of this article saying that foreigners should not be forced to follow only the KOREAN WAY. Adapting to Korean culture is one thing but being forced to become a KOREAN in every way is another.

Teenagers embrace multiracial families

By Kim Rahn

Kim So-hee, a middle school third grader in Daejeon, has an aunt who is from Cambodia.

Watching the aunt adapt herself to Korean society, she said she learned a lot about cultural diversity.

“Different cultures should be respected. If the nation has various cultures, races, skin colors and lifestyles, we can learn a lot from the diversity,” she said.

With Korea having a growing number of foreign members of society and becoming more racially diverse, such openness toward multiculturalism is becoming important. Fortunately, a recent survey showed that many teenagers, like Kim, embrace the coexistence of various races and cultures here.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on 2,500 middle and high school students nationwide between last November and December, the respondents were more opened to multiculturalism than adults.

It was the first such research on teenagers, while a similar one was conducted on adults about a year before.

The Korean Women’s Development Institute, which conducted the survey on behalf of the ministry, presumed that the young generation have more openness toward foreign people and culture because they have less strict standards about “being Korean.”

“In the survey, 40.1 percent said having Korean ancestors is important to be recognized as a Korean. The ratio is much lower than adults’ 86.6 percent. They are less narrow-minded about the qualification to be a Korean national than adults,” Ahn Sang-soo, a researcher at the institute, said.

The survey also showed that students were more opened to different cultures if they have had education about multiculturalism at schools or had programs in which children of interracial families and those of Korean native parents mingle together, such as camping or cooking classes.

The more they had overseas trips or stays or the more they had chance to talk with foreigners or interracial family members, the more widely they were opened to different races and cultures.

In order to raise the openness, Ahn said it is important to provide children with more chance to get educated on multiculturalism and to mingle with foreigners or interracial family members. But he also said such education programs should be diverse and be given in stages because people have different levels of understanding and openness.

“For children who rarely have a chance to meet foreigners or interracial families, the education should be focused on eliminating prejudice against them. For children who frequently meet such people as classmates or relatives, they should be told not to demand those foreigners follow only Korean ways, and not to treat people from advanced countries and those from underdeveloped nations differently,” he said.

bellje@koreatimes.co.kr,

Global Korea Scholarship 2013

2013-01-14T16:46:00.002+09:00

Global Korea Scholarship 2013

1. 2013 Applicant Schedule (Prearranged)

a. Submit the Application: 28 Jan~ 18 March
b. Primary Selection by Daejeon University: 1 April~12 April
c. Secondary Document Screening(Second Selection) by NIIED: 25 April~ 26 April
d. Announcement of the Second Selection Acceptance: 30 April
e. Admission Selection for Student(Including Adopter) who Recommended by Official Residence (Third Selection): 1 May ~ 31 May
f. Physical Examination the Student who passed Second Selection: 1 May ~ 31 May
g. Announce the names of the applicants who passed the all selections: 17 June
h. Issue the Visa and Purchase Airline Ticket: 18 June ~ 31 July
i. Entry Korea: 26 Aug ~ 28 Aug
j. Orientation: 29 Aug ~30 Aug
k. Classes Begin: 2 Sep ~

2.Qualification

a. Foreigners whose parents are both foreigners
※ Dual Citizen is not accepted
b. Students who have good both Physical and Mental Health
※ Must pass the Physical Examination (The prescript form provided)
c. Under age of 40 by 1 Sep, 2013 (Born after 1 Sep 1973)
d. By 31 Aug, 2013, Student must have Bachelor’s degree.
※Disaccreditationwhen student doesnot earn the degree by31 Aug, 2013
※No student who was in Korean University or graduate Korean University in the past
e. A minimum of 3.0/4.0 GPA, 80% out of 100% percentage, or equivalent grade
※If it is hard to submit GPA or Percentage transcript, submit certificate of rank(within 20% of top rank)
f. Optional: Test of proficiency in Korean (TOPIK , KLPT) or in English (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS)

3. Required Documents

a. Required Documents: 1 Original and 3 Copies for each document by carrier.
※Address:Hyehwa Cultural Center #409,Institute of International Affairs, Dajeon University, 300-716, Korea
※Documents in languages other than Korean and English must be submitted with a notarized Korean translation.
No. Name of Document Master Degree PhD
1 Application
2 A letter of Self-Introduction
3 Plans for Studying in Daejeon University
4 Recommendation letters
5 Written Oath
6 Self-Health Check List
7 Certification of the Expectant Graduation (Notarized)
8 Undergraduate Transcript(Notarized)
9 Certification of the Expectant Master’s Degree Graduation (Notarized)
10 Master’s Degree Transcript
11 Copy of Passport
12 Korean Language Exam Certificate
13 English Language Exam Certificate
14 Thesis (1~2 Papers)
15 Prize Record (1~2 Papers)

b. Notes
-Student can apply only one university. Applicants who apply more than 1 institution are ruled out.
-All submitted documents are not returned.
-When the information is found to be false, admission will be revoked even after enrollment.
-Copied documents need to get stamped or signed bythe recommendinginstitution.
-Must be accurate in self-physicalcheckuplist. The admission may be cancelledwhen a serious disease is foundduring physical examination which will be carried out after being announced as a successful candidate.
-Submit Printed Thesis (1~2 copies)
-Submit the copy of prize record (Notarized)
- Applicant cannotchange the university oncethe admission is confirmed.

4. Contact Details
a. Phone: +82 42 280 2767/ +82 42 280 2126/ +82 42 280 2489
b.E-mail: iro2@dju.kr

KOREA TIMES: Responsibility comes with sex

2013-01-07T19:00:00.003+09:00

*I came across an interesting article in Korea Times and I'm sharing this article with you my dear readers and most of all I'm sharing this to all Filipinas who got pregnant out of wedlock by Koreans in the Philippines. The term KOPINO (a child born between a Korean father and a Filipino mother) is increasingly becoming prominent because of the effects of the increase in Korean population/tourists in the Philippines. Unfortunately, Filipino moms are left to take care of their KOPINO kids and raise them without support from the Korean fathers. I might be TOO idealistic when I say I'm hoping these women and the KOPINO kids should be able to demand for support from their Korean fathers as well. It might be a long shot but if there's a court ruling favoring the mom and the child why not try doing it for those who were left behind in the Philippines. What do you think?

KOREA TIMES: Responsibility comes with sex

There is keen attention being paid to a court ruling that one must provide child support even though a child is born out of wedlock.

A 32-year-old woman got pregnant after having a relationship with her boyfriend in 2010. Having been told of the pregnancy, the boyfriend refused to enter into matrimony and the two split up.

Having given birth to an infant as a single mother, she demanded child support from her ex-boyfriend but he refused, saying that he did not even know of the existence of the child.

However, there is a ruling by the Supreme Court in 1987 which says that a person becomes financial responsible the moment he becomes aware of the existence of a child that he fathered.

Based on the precedent, she filed a suit and the court ruled in her favor. Citing another ruling by the Supreme Court of 1994, the court said the man in fact has the responsibility of providing child support from the moment of birth even if he was not aware of the birth itself.

The court ruled that the ex-boyfriend has to pay the woman 9.2 million won ($8,400) in previous child support and provide 700,000 won ($630) in monthly due.

“The changes in times mean that child support needs to be paid regardless of matrimony. It is a responsibility that comes with parenting a child,” the court said.

2012 - The year of GANG-NAM STYLE

2013-01-02T09:32:00.001+09:00

2012 was THE year for PSY....with the song Gang-nam Style enjoying popularity all over the world what elese could he ask for. So on his 35th birthday on New Year's Eve, Psy celebrated his birthday with style performing Gangnam Style in New York Time Square with no other than MC HAMMER, and Korean celebrities who appeared in the music video of Gangnam style.....Korea's very famous comedian/host Yoo Jae-seok, and Korea's Infinite Challenge member Noh Hong-chul. It was such a great performance and a fine way to welcome 2013. So what's next for PSY?

KOREA TIMES: Free childcare services to be offered next year

2012-12-31T00:52:00.000+09:00

*Yipee! Finally GREAT NEWS for families with children ages 5 below in Korea. The much awaited free childcare services is here to STAY and yes it's irrespective of the family's financial status. I was really disappointed when the free childcare services were drastically changed this year so I'm really hoping that this campaign pledge will STAY IMPLEMENTED, or else parents in Korea will just end up working for the sake of paying for the daycare fees of their children.

Free childcare services to be offered next year

By Kim Rahn

Irrespective of income, all families will likely get free childcare service for newborns to five-years-olds next year.

The ruling Saenuri Party said Sunday that it has agreed on the measure with Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan, Welfare Minister Lim Chae-min and Governors’ Association of Korea President Kim Kwan-yong.

The agreement is in line with President-elect Park Geun-hye’s pledge, a change from the outgoing Lee Myung-bak administration’s initial plan to link the support with parents’ financial status.

In September, the Lee administration said it would scrap the free daycare service for all children aged two or under, which it had adopted earlier this year, because local authorities didn’t have enough funding capabilities for the program. Instead it said it would provide the free service only to the bottom 70 percent in terms of parents’ income, setting up next year’s budget according to the plan.

“But now we decided to continue the free daycare program for all. In addition, we plan to expand child allowance given for children raised at home. Virtually the government’s support for childcare will be applied to all families regardless of financial status,” a party official said.

For children aged two or below attending daycare centers, the free service provided in 2012 will continue for 2013. For children aged between three and five attending preschools, the government will provide a common preschool curriculum, covering all expenses as it does for elementary schools. These two measures will enable free childcare and child education for all children aged five or under.

With regard to child allowance for children raised at home, 100,000-200,000 won has been offered to parents in the bottom 15 percent for children aged two or under. But the allowance will be provided regardless of parents’ financial status, and children aged between three and five will be included.

Such drastic decision for “all free” childcare services has been possible because they were one of Park’s key campaign pledges and have also been pushed by the main opposition Democratic United Party.

In a meeting with Lee last Friday, Park also sought the government’s cooperation for smooth implementation of the programs promoted by the next administration.

Accordingly, the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts has decided to allocate 1.05 trillion won for 2013 through an agreement between representatives of the ruling and main opposition parties.

The parties expected 1.4 trillion won would be needed for the new policy _ 700 billion won paid by the central government and 700 billion won by municipalities. However, as the latter claimed their coffers have already been depleted and demanded the former shoulder the additional funding burden, the parties decided to have the government spend an additional 350 billion won to cover half of the municipalities’ share.

“As the two parties and the government have consented to the policy, we expect the plan will be included in the budget bill without opposition,” the party official said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr,

First time for Korea's 18th

2012-12-19T22:45:00.001+09:00

Nope, I'm not talking about my first date, first love, and absolutely not my first sexual experience hahahahaha. I'm talking about my first time to vote for the 18th President of Korea. To be honest I was nervous about exercising my right to vote for the first time, and as a result I wasn't able to sleep well last night hahahaha. Although I would often watch the news and read about the political situation in Korea, it was actually the first time I get to participate on choosing the next leader of Korea. A leader who could change the future of Korea and a leader who could affect our lives for the next five years.

First time voter...so hubby insisted on taking a souvenir shot hahahahaha.
He even demanded I upload it in FB

I would rather not mention who I voted for, instead I will discuss my fascination on Korea's voting process. The voting process was very smooth and systematic. There was no confusion and most of all there was no chaos. This is absolutely different from the voting process in the Philippines, where election is feared not just because there's always people fighting, cheating, and the worst part of it is..... there would always be people dying because of the election. The casting of votes in Korea will not even take the voter longer than 3 minutes. A few days before the election the Commission on Election would send registered voters copies of the candidates profile and their designated voter's number and polling place. So, there is really no room for confusion on election day. Unlike in the Philippines where it would actually take weeks, or even months before election results could be verified and the winning candidate proclaimed. Korea's election results could already be verified in a matter of hours after the voting closing time. The difference in the election process left me speechless the whole day and I couldn't help but wish that the Philippines would also have the same systematic and orderly election process....it's a wish and to be honest I don't know if that wish would ever come true.

Anyway, as of the moment the election results are being discussed actively on t.v. and my husband is way too noisy cheering for his chosen candidate. There's a 3-4 percent difference between the leading candidate Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in.... and my husband is watching everything with an eagle eye, like there's a big soccer game between Korea and Japan hahahahaha. We still have a couple of hours left before the winning candidate could be proclaimed, I just wish the winner could do something about Korea's deteriorating economy because Korea's 18th President would affect not only my life in Korea but it will determine my children's future as well.

KOREA HERALD: Seoul toughens smoking ban in restaurants

2012-12-05T18:11:00.003+09:00

*WATCH OUT SMOKERS in Korea....check for smoking areas before you decide to light up that cigarette. Smokers may frown on this but this new law is really making me SMILE!

Seoul toughens smoking ban in restaurants

Published : 2012-12-04 21:24
Updated : 2012-12-05 09:10

Smoking will be prohibited in restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and bars with a surface area of 150 square meters or larger nationwide starting from Dec. 8, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday.

Indoor as well as outdoor areas of public buildings such as hospitals, libraries, day-care centers, government offices and commercial complexes will also be designated as smoke-free zones, the ministry said.

The amendment to the National Health Promotion Act was endorsed at the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday morning.

“The government has decided to impose stricter rules on smoking as it found limits in protecting the public health with the current laws,” the ministry said.
Starting this Saturday, about 80,000 restaurants including those in expressway service stop areas should declare themselves as smoke-free eatery zones and assign a separate unit for smoking customers. For those who break the law, the government will impose penalties ranging from 1.7 million ($1,560) to 5 million won according to the number of violations.
Not only restaurant owners but also customers will be fined 100,000 won if they smoke outside designated smoking areas, officials added.
Smokers may have to search for smoking rooms whenever they enter public buildings as the new law prohibits smoking even in their parking lots, rooftops and gardens.
The new law obligates building owners to install a smoking unit outside and 10 meters away from the entrance of their buildings.
The new anti-smoking law also includes banning the use of names referring to flavors added to cigarettes. Tobacco companies should remove words like menthol, mojito, cherry, aroma, coffee and apple mint from tobacco products, also as of Dec. 8. Tobacco companies in Korea said they received guidelines from the Ministry of Health a month ago and replaced the names of existing flavored tobacco products.

“We will follow the government’s new rule by changing the names of flavored tobacco products,” said an official at KT&G, the country’s largest tobacco maker.

Amid mounting calls for improving public health and a clean environment, the Korean government has been expanding smoking-ban policies in recent years, while keeping the price of cigarettes substantially lower than other advanced countries.

Officials say the latest move is just a part of a broader and stricter anti-smoking rules to be imposed in the future.
The government plans to ban smoking in smaller restaurants with spaces larger than 100 square meters in 2014 and to all restaurants, regardless of size, in 2015.
Smoking in PC rooms or internet cafes will also be prohibited starting in June next year.

By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldcorp.com)

JOB OPENING: Consular Officer Korean Embassy in the Philippines

2012-12-04T19:55:00.002+09:00

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea is looking for a skilled and motivated individual to fill the following position:

CONSULAR OFFICER

Qualifications:

1. Male or Female not more than 35 years old;

2. University degree in Legal Management, Political Science, International Studies or other related field. Completion of at least two (2) years of Bachelor of Laws is an advantage.

3. At least three (3) years experience in research and drafting of legal documents, speeches, formal letters, among others.

4. Experience in dealing with government agencies both in person and via telephone;

5. Proficient in oral and written English and Filipino;

6. Ability to use Microsoft Office programs;

7. Working knowledge of police procedures and immigration matters.

Please send your curriculum vitae / resume not later than December 28, 2012.

Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

Administrative Section:

122 Upper McKinley Rd. McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Tel: 856-9210 Fax: 856-9019 Email: rokphil@yahoo.com

KOREA TIMES: You cannot rape your wife

2012-11-28T11:07:00.003+09:00

You cannot rape your wife

The government is seeking to prohibit unwanted sex between married couples.

The move is contained in the 4th basic policy program involving women’s affairs for 2013-2017, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced Monday.

The program is designed to prevent sexual and domestic violence and strengthen the punishment of violators.

Marital rape is non-consensual sex in which the perpetrator is the victim's spouse.

“There has been opposition from legal circles but there is a need for serious discussion on the issue,” said a ministry official. The topic has been raised since the middle of the 2000s.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1970 that spousal rape cannot be constituted as abuse and even physical violence and threats were not admissible in a court of law.

However, a Busan court recognized marital rape as illegal in 2009 and so did an appellate court the same year.

Similar rulings were made in the United States in 1984 and in Britain in 1991. The United Nations has long called on Korea to recognize spousal rape.

“Even among married couples, people have a right to choose and this should be part of the law,” the ministry official said.

JOB OPENING: Philippine Embassy in SEOUL(English-Korean Interpreter)

2012-11-28T10:49:00.001+09:00

JOB OPENING - INTERPRETER

By: Ms. VIRSIE B. TAMAYAO, Welfare Officer

ONE (1) INTERPRETER MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: MALE / FEMALE

• Must be proficient in Korean and English languages (speaking and writing);
• Must be a College graduate;
• Must be computer literate;
• Must know how to drive (with driver’s license);
• Preferably with previous working experience.

Please submit your letter of application (in English), curriculum vitae and passport size ID photo to:

Ms. VIRSIE B. TAMAYAO
Welfare Officer
Philippine Overseas Labor Office
Philippine Embassy
5-1 Itaewon 2Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul
Telephone Nos. (02) 3785-3624 / 010-9054-0694

or, Email at: owwaseoul@gmail.com

JOB DESCRIPTION:
1. Serve as interpreter and translator of documents in Korean and English texts;
2. Assist during meetings and case negotiations;
3. Answers telephone inquiries;
4. Perform other tasks as may be required by the head of office.

Deadline of submission of application is 15 December 2012.

2012 Korean Presidential ELECTION

2012-11-27T10:42:00.000+09:00

Since I can now officially vote in the coming Korean Presidential Election I'm at lost on WHO will I vote for and I'm not even aware on what to do on that special historical day. Luckily, the multicultural family center in Yangju handed out leaflets to first time voters like me and I would like to share the details to you guys.

VOTING METHOD AND POINTS TO NOTE

VOTING PROCEDURE
1.선거인 명부 대주 - Check up on voter list
2. 투표용지 수령 - Receive a ballot paper
3. 기표 - Fill out a ballot paper with your preferred candidate
4. 투입 - Put the ballot into the ballot box

VOTING REMINDERS
* Bring your national i.d. card 신분증명서,
if you do not have your national i.d. card YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE!
(You can present the following as your VALID i.d. card: residence registration card,
passport, driver's license, civil service ID card, certificate of person of national merit,
certificate of the disabled, certificate of qualification issued
by the public offices/public agencies)
* The following are the reasons for invalidation of your vote:
if you have voted for more than one candidate, if it is impossible to identify which candidate you have voted for,

if you have entered any shape or letter instead of the given mark, if you have written a name or have stamped your seal or thumbprint, if you have filled out the ballot paper using other tools than the marking device provided by the election commission.

VOTING DATE AND TIME
DECEMBER 19 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
POLLING PLACE
You can check out the mail sent to your place of residence by the National Election Commission

for more information please check out this link

2012 Korean Presidential Election

Happy Chuseok

2012-09-28T16:20:00.000+09:00

It's Chuseok once again but lucky me it's probably going to be a STRESS free Chuseok for me this year. Do you know why? Hubby is still in Russia for his business trip and he won't come back to Korea until the last day of the Chuseok holiday kkkkkkk. So that means, no trip to the kun jip (patriarchal house) this year YIPEE!!!! Ooops, I dont sound too excited right? Anyway, I just hope we could still spend some time together as a family before the holiday ends because it's Jacob's first Chuseok.To all the obedient daughter-in-laws out there I hope you all enjoy the holidays. Happy Chuseok everyone!

KOREA HERALD : ‘Gangnam Style’ offers social commentary

2012-09-19T16:32:00.000+09:00

*The now very famous song of Psy ...."Gangnam Style" is also popular with the intellectuals when it comes to the symbolism that the song represents about Korea. I wonder how will the people from GANGNAM feel with the criticisms that they face from this social commentary.

‘Gangnam Style’ offers social commentary

South Korean rapper PSY's ``Gangnam Style'' video has more than 200 million YouTube views and counting, and it's easy to see why. No Korean language skills are needed to enjoy the chubby, massively entertaining performer's crazy horse-riding dance, the song's addictive chorus and the video's exquisitely odd series of misadventures.

Beneath the antic, funny surface of his world-conquering song, however, is a sharp social commentary about the country's newly rich and Gangnam, the affluent district where many of them live. Gangnam is only a small slice of Seoul, but it inspires a complicated mixture of desire, envy and bitterness.

Here's a look at the meaning of ``Gangnam Style'' _ and at the man and neighborhood behind the sensation:

In this photo taken on Sept. 14, 2012, South Korean rapper PSY performs his massive K-pop hit "Gangnam Style" live on NBC's "Today" show in New York. His "Gangnam Style" video has more than 200 million YouTube views and counting, and it's easy to see why. Gangnam is only a small slice of Seoul, but it inspires a complicated mixture of desire, envy and bitterness. It's also the spark for PSY's catchy, world-conquering song. (AP-Yonhap News)

THE PLACE:
Gangnam is the most coveted address in Korea, but less than two generations ago it was little more than some forlorn homes surrounded by flat farmland and drainage ditches.

The district of Gangnam, which literally means ``south of the river,'' is about half the size of Manhattan. About 1 percent of Seoul's population lives there, but many of its residents are very rich. The average Gangnam apartment costs about $716,000, a sum that would take an average South Korean household 18 years to earn.

The seats of business and government power in Seoul have always been north of the Han River, in the neighborhoods around the royal palaces, and many old-money families still live there.

Gangnam, however, is new money, the beneficiary of a development boom that began in the 1970s.

As the price of high-rise apartments skyrocketed during a real estate investment frenzy in the early 2000s, landowners and speculators became wealthy practically overnight. The district's rich families got even richer.

The new wealth drew the trendiest boutiques and clubs and a proliferation of plastic surgery clinics, but it also provided access to something considered vital in modern South Korea: top-notch education in the form of prestigious private tutoring and prep schools. Gangnam households spend nearly four times more on education than the national average.

The notion that Gangnam residents have risen not by following the traditional South Korean virtues of hard work and sacrifice, but simply by living on a coveted piece of geography, irks many. The neighborhood's residents are seen by some as monopolizing the country's best education opportunities, the best cultural offerings and the best infrastructure, while spending big on foreign luxury goods to highlight their wealth.

``Gangnam inspires both envy and distaste,'' said Kim Zakka, a Seoul-based pop music critic. ``Gangnam residents are South Korea's upper class, but South Koreans consider them self-interested, with no sense of noblesse oblige.''

In a sly, entertaining way, PSY's song pushes these cultural buttons.

THE GUY:
More mainstream K-Pop performers, already famous in South Korea and across Asia, have tried and failed to crack the American market.

So how did PSY _ aka Park Jae-sang _ a stocky, 34-year-old rapper who was fined nearly $4,500 for smoking marijuana after his 2001 debut, get to be the one teaching Britney Spears how to do the horse-riding dance on American TV?

``I'm not handsome, I'm not tall, I'm not muscular, I'm not skinny,'' PSY recently said on the American ``Today'' TV show. ``But I'm sitting here.''

He attributed his success to ``soul or attitude.''

PSY, whose stage name stems from the first three letters of the word psycho, has always styled himself as a quirky outsider. But he is from a wealthy family and was actually raised and educated south of the Han River, near Gangnam.

He's an excellent dancer, a confident rapper and he's funny, but another reason for his breakthrough could be that less-than-polished image, said Jae-Ha Kim, a Chicago Tribune pop culture columnist and former music critic.

South Korean music has scored big in Asia with bands featuring handsome, stylish, makeup-wearing young men, including Super Junior and Boyfriend. But seeing such singers ``makes some Americans nervous,'' Kim said.

``People in America are comfortable with Asian guys who look like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who are good-looking, but they're not the equivalent of Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves,'' Kim said.

Part of the initial interest in ``Gangnam Style,'' Kim said, was a kind of ``freak-show mentality, where people are like, `This guy is funny.' But then you look at his choreography and you realize that you really have to know how to dance to do what he does. He's really good.''

THE SONG:
PSY, at times wearing sleeveless dress shirts with painted-on untied bowties, repeatedly flouts South Koreans' popular notions of Gangnam in his video.

Instead of cavorting in nightclubs, he parties with retirees on a disco-lighted tour bus. Instead of working out in a high-end health club, he lounges in a sauna with two tattooed gangsters. As he struts along with two beautiful models, they're pelted in the face with massive amounts of wind-blown trash and sticky confetti. The throne from which he delivers his hip-hop swagger is a toilet.

The song explores South Koreans' ``love-hate relationship with Gangnam,'' said Baak Eun-seok, a pop music critic. The rest of South Korea sees Gangnam residents as everything PSY isn't, he said: good-looking because of plastic surgery, stylish because they can splurge on luxury goods, slim thanks to yoga and personal trainers.

``PSY looks like a country bumpkin. He's a far cry from the so-called `Gangnam Style,''' Baak said. ``He's parodying himself.''

The video abounds with ironic, ``not upper-class'' images that ordinary South Koreans recognize, said Park Byoung-soo, a social commentator who runs a popular visual art blog. Old men play a Korean board game and middle-aged women wear wide-brimmed hats to keep the sun off their faces as they walk backward _ a popular way to exercise in South Korea.

PSY's character in the video is modeled on the clueless heroes of movies like ``The Naked Gun'' and ``Dumb & Dumber,'' he told Yonhap news agency earlier this year. He has also said his goal is to ``dress classy, but dance cheesy.''

Others see more than just a goofy outsider.

``PSY does something in his video that few other artists, Korean or otherwise, do: He parodies the wealthiest, most powerful neighborhood in South Korea,'' writes Sukjong Hong, creative nonfiction fellow at Open City, an online magazine. (AP)

MANGO MANIA in Korea

2012-09-17T22:48:00.000+09:00

It's almost Chuseok(Thanksgiving) time in Korea and during this holiday Koreans traditionally buy gifts for their friends and family. If you love mangoes like me and would love to have your friends and family in Korea taste the best mangoes available, it will be a nice idea to check out MANGO MANIA in Korea. They deliver on time and they even have instructions on how to eat mangoes written in KOREAN (believe it or not a lot of people in Korea are not aware HOW to eat mangoes properly....kkkkk). Anyway, my little mango addict (my very own little Zach) and I can attest that Mango Mania's mangoes are the best decent (I say decent because most mangoes I have tried from the regular supermarkets here in Korea have this awkward taste that signifies the mangoes were not ripened properly.....I should know we used to have a MANGO tree in my backyard in the Philippines) tasting mangoes in Korea. Hurry and satisfy that urge for that sweet tasting mango. Hmmm....while writing this post my little Zach is begging me to order another box......hahahaha.

Surprise! Britney Learns 'Gangnam Style' from Psy!

2012-09-13T17:14:00.001+09:00

* WOW! Psy is really making BIG waves for Korea and he can even speak ENGLISH relatively well. What's next for Oppa GANGNAM Style?

KOREA TIMES: Child rapists may face life in prison

2012-09-11T11:56:00.000+09:00

*The recent rise of pedophile related cases in Korea is really giving me the creeps and I've been constantly educating my little Zach not to allow anyone touch his private parts at any time. I've instructed him to shout I WILL CALL THE POLICE or MAMA/PAPA HELP if someone touches his private parts as well. Parents will never know when can their child be vulnerable to sexual attacks by these disgusting pedophiles so as much as possible pay attention to your children. Ever since I came to Korea I've always wondered why the punishment for RAPE and other sexually related crimes are very mild, Korea should really strengthen laws about concerning this situation before another innocent child falls victim to these sexual monsters.

Child rapists may face life in prison

Children cross their arms over their heads to make an “X sign” during a session teaching them how to avoid sex crimes, at their daycare center in Bongcheon-dong, southwestern Seoul, Monday. The session was hosted by the civic group Good Neighbors. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki

Law revision also aims to enable unsolicited police probes into sex crimes

By Na Jeong-ju

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Monday that it will push for a law revision to increase the maximum penalty for rape of a minor from the current five years in jail to between 10 years and life imprisonment.

The Ministry of Justice is also seeking an amendment to enable law enforcement officials to investigate rapes and other sex crimes without receiving an official report or complaint.

The measures came as the government is stepping up a fight against sex offenses amid soaring rape cases including those of children.

“I’m very sorry as a top government official in charge of preventing sexual violence for the growing public anxiety over a string of sex crimes,” Kim Kum-lae, minister of gender equality and family, told reporters.

She said the government will spare no efforts to better protect women and children by getting tougher with offenders.

The revision will also no longer allow the influence of alcohol to be an excuse for those who commit sex crimes, the ministry said.

Under the revision, those convicted of molesting children under the age of 19 but not of raping them will face up to 5 years in prison or a fine of 30 million to 50 million won.

In addition, those who possess child pornography will face up to 10 years in jail. The maximum penalty for such offenders is currently a fine of 20 million won.

The government is also seeking to expand the enforced usage of hormonal treatment against sex offenders. Currently, the punishment is only reserved for pedophiles, but it wants to increase its use to include all sex offenders.

The justice ministry is also seeking to revise relevant laws so that prosecutors can bring charges against perpetrators of sex crimes even without complaints from victims.

The ministry said it is working with legal experts to abolish a clause in Criminal Law which calls for direct complaints from sex crime victims to investigate and prosecute suspects.

Currently, such crimes against minors and physically and mentally challenged people are excluded from the clause, but adult victims must submit complaints directly.

If the clause is scrapped, the prosecution could probe and punish perpetrators of all types of sex offenses without complaints from victims.

The move reflects public demand for tougher punishment for sex offenders amid a series of high-profile brutal crimes against minors and women.

“There are concerns that the scrapping of the clause may infringe on the human rights of perpetrators and sex crime convicts. It will also make it impossible for victims to be compensated for their pain and suffering,” a ministry spokesman said.

“In the past, many perpetrators evaded prosecution after reaching a financial compromise with victims, but that will never happen, if the clause is removed.”

The prosecution plans to demand much heavier jail terms for murderers and sex offenders. Police have also launched a crackdown on peer-to-peer file-sharing websites and Internet servers, believed to be the main distribution channels of child pornography, in a bid to counter sex crimes.

Last week, prosecutors indicted five people for keeping child porn on their computers after downloading it from websites. It is also investigating some 60 other people for distributing such images on the Internet.

Minister Kim called for nationwide efforts to prevent sex crimes.

“We’re living in a flood of obscene materials spreading via smartphones or the Internet,” the minister said. “All members of society should take this problem seriously and make efforts to produce sound sexual awareness.”