I caught this news last week on TV Patrol. Sandra Cam, known as the hueteng whistleblower, complained about a Korean-run English learning center in the Philippines that has been using the name of Cam’s school without her permission.
The news was featured on SBS and MBC news programs on Friday night. Apparently, several Koreans were running a short-term English learning program in a resort in the Southern Tagalog region without permit. The students, who are all minors, also didn’t have the necessary permit to study.
It’s not an uncommon practice for Korean students to travel to the Philippines during their summer and winter vacations and take a short-term course on the language. It’s also not an uncommon practice to skip the “special study permits” since Koreans can stay in the Philippines for 21 days visa-free. Korean parents usually pay anywhere from 2 to 8 million won (between 1800 to 8000 USD) to send their kids to language centers during their vacation.
Read more from the story in Korea Times: Detained Korean students in Philippines to return home.
when they showed Cam’s school’s name a few nights ago (on SBS), i suddenly remembered 2 Korean women who showed me pictures of a language school back home having the same name. i now wonder if they’re involved. last summer, i saw their ads about a summer camp and tuition was 2Mwon.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/01/13/11/bi-orders-deportation-70-korean-students
Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said 7 Korean adults, who illegally operate the language school, facilitated the students’ illegal entry to the Philippines.
He added that 6 of the Korean adults are also working in the country without necessary immigration permits.
Ledesma said the 7th Korean adult, Kwang Ye Lee, is a permanent resident but his visa will be canceled for violating the conditions of his stay in the country.
Ledesma said the 70 students and the 7 Korean adults will be deported and included in the BI’s blacklist.
sad to hear that the 70 students will be included in the blacklist…
yes, i feel sorry for them too since according to the news most of them are minors and these minors are put in unpleasant situation. sana ‘wag masyadong harsh. kahit pa minsan eh, nakakainis ang presence nila i still want our country to treat them fairly and consider how much they are contributing to our economy.
the annoying thing is though Korean managers are involved in the violation, many are blaming Korean students why they are studying English in a miserable place like Philippines. Nakikinabang sila sa Pilipinas and it cannot be negated that they learn better English because of Filipino teachers. The point here is sana wag silang mandaya. Nakinabang na nga sila. They are here to learn English in a low cost tapos ganyan pa sila.
haay. dito yan sa amin sa batangas, lemery. 1hr n byahe from batangas city. napanood ko sa tv patrol.