Today’s LAT explores the Korean “tradition” of chonji (춘지) or practice of parents offering under-the-table payoffs ”gifts” to their children’s teachers. Clearly, chonji is a way parents try to give their children a leg-up in Korea’s highly competitive educational system. However, the tradition is rife with abuse and often times is just another form of systemic bribery.
The money shot?
Some teachers make no excuses about accepting chonji. A parent wrote a letter to a Seoul newspaper claiming that she had offered a teacher a gift worth $70 and that the teacher had suggested that it was not enough, saying, “I can only get a pair of shoes with this money.”
It’s little wonder that the Korean Teacher’s Federation is fighting any concerted crackdown tooth and nail.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
촌지!!!
I am happy to assume the role of Korean spelling Nazi.
Damn you and your Korean middle school edumacation…
is there a special verb tied with 촌지 or is it just 하다/촌지주다/받다/보내다 etc. thanks.
My wife tells me this despicable practice even goes on at some kindergartens.
That’s cuz kindergarten teachers get paid subsistence level wage…촌지 at that level must be like a donation or tip rather than bribery.
You’re joking, right?
It’s protection money.
“I won’t smack your toddler around or destroy his self-esteem if you pay up”.
Let me clarify… I see nothing wrong with giving gifts to kindergarten teachers, tips as you suggest. The teacher I was referring to was demanding cash from the parents.
No not joking..I would say it definitely figures into the equation. They get paid .8 to 1 mil a month if I’m not mistaken, without the kind of job security or pension plans in place for those fortunate to be working in public schools. That kind of crapass salary for having to deal with kids all day long, and feeling like there’s not a whole lot you can do about it, would make me a very irritable person.
But then again, I just read an article that referred to an OECD study that has Korea ranking ahead of the U.S. and Japan in terms of per capita income after accounting for purchasing power and tax rates…so maybe .8 to 1 mil ain’t so bad after all?
http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200905150081&top20=1
Actually this practice is even live in overseas where there is large Korean community. Both American and Australian teachers had no problem taking some gifts and moneys from Korean parents.
Even Australian politician expected money from wealthy Chinese businessman, that politician even took holiday gifts several times from same donor. This created heated discussion over bribes and unethical practice.
#3 t_song,
촌지를 주고받다.
촌지를 건네다.
That would barely cover the rent of a closet-sized goshiwon, some groceries, and daily necessities. Korean kindergartens can get away with paying so little because most of the teachers are probably single young women living at home with their parents.
I asked my co-teacher at our after school program (we work at the public school still) but she has never received Won but only gifts in the 100원 – 5,000원 range. Her sister has worked public elementary school for years and has never gotten the famed white envelope with cash.
I’ve heard it was common in the past but not as much now.
#3 I think its clear that theKorean will no longer pay any credence to any of your opinions on korea as you clearly have a very limited uderstanding of korean.
@지몽
감싸, 감싸
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