외국인 강사가 해고 뒤 만난 ‘노동 연대’ [6411의 목소리]

A foreign teacher from the United States arrived in Korea four years ago and experienced both warmth and systematic repression within the country's language education system. While she was warmly welcomed and generously offered meals, she also faced a starkly cold and oppressive environment. Upon signing her first contract at a Korean language school in July 2023, she was filled with hope, but her experience quickly turned sour.

For over a month, her employer failed to respond to any communications, informing her that she would not be assigned any classes. This meant that she had essentially become a jobless person. The working conditions were also poor, with Korean assistant teachers even scolding her in front of students. She reported this to the principal, but he defended the assistant teachers' actions as appropriate.

After two years, she learned from fellow teachers that labor rights were being violated in language schools and began attending meetings with labor union representatives. Initially, she thought all issues were separate, but the deeper questions emerged: "What rights do workers have? What can workers do when their rights are not protected?"

They joined the National Democratic Labor Union's branch in Busan, but their expectations were betrayed. The principal threatened them with "punishment" if they persisted in their union activities, even attempting to cancel their visas. They were also subjected to police harassment and ultimately, laid off. They have been jobless ever since, hoping for an improvement in working conditions.

Now, they gather outside the language school every week to protest, joined by numerous labor union friends from across the country. Despite facing a rejection from the local labor committee, they plan to appeal to the central labor committee and file a complaint with the labor ministry. They urge the Korean government not to abandon their rights and remind fellow workers that they are not alone.