Strangely enough, after reading of the shenanigans in the Korean press regarding foreign teachers and the attempt to turn a private poker game into a “crime ring”, I ran across a report of police and immigration sweeping through areas of Tokyo (Roppongi) and demanding random urine tests from foreigners and not just English teachers, right there on the street. Here is one link to what to do if you are suspected of being a dangerous foreigner by the Japanese police.
Meanwhile, Japan Will Never Quite Be Outdone by Korea . . .
Previous post: Mike Kim at Mountain View
Next post: Hey, Cool!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
In this case, the Korean press would mean “Mike Hurt,” since I’ve yet to find a single story on it.
All I’m asking is we not jump the gun.
I would categorize the articles by Keystone Kang at the KT and the intern at the Chosun to be shenanigans.
Ah, I should have made the reference more clear then. I was speaking of the “Chosunlowblo” articles on evil English teachers, in addition to the thread by Mike Hurt on the highly questionable police action taken over a private card game.
Apologist
LOL.
Just doing my bit to add oil to the fire, here’s another article today in the Chosun Ilbo about a native English teacher with phony diploma made in Thailand, discussing in his blog, how easy it is too fool Korean schools, and how easy it is to earn easy big money and get easy access to sex from Korean bitches in the ROK. He says he helped 14 teachers with phony diplomas to stay in Korea. According to the paper, he calls “Koreans are ugly people living in garbage dumps”, and other kinds of unflattering insulting comments about Koreans in his blog. He also put up Youtube videos of himself bragging . They even have a link to his one of his youtube videos, at the bottom of the page.
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/07/02/2009070201412.html?Dep0=chosunmain&Dep1=news&Dep2=headline1&Dep3=h1_03
If the author of that blog is reading this, shame on you.
Well, it has hit the Chosun Ilbo.
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/07/03/2009070300244.html?Dep0=chosunmain&Dep1=news&Dep2=headline1&Dep3=h1_03
The ten (Canadians, Americians, Kiwis) were charged for gambling (poker) between 500,000 and 3,000,000 wons. One NZ Kiwi was charged with drug use (I’m presuming Pot). In another incident, two English teachers named Mr.D and Mr.A were charged near Itaewon for smoking hash.
Speaking of foreigners and drugs, there was a case in Taiwan a while back involving a Canadian English teacher who had been smuggling drugs into the country. Had he not confessed, it is likely that he might have been executed. It is something for which the death penalty is an option under the criminal laws of Taiwan. Even the visa forms carry this warning, namely 依據中華民國刑法，販賣、 運送毒品者可判處死刑 (drug trafficking is punishable by death according the criminal laws of the Republic of China).
The criminal laws of the Taiwan are downright tolerant compared to the criminal laws of Singapore on drug offences. Generally, if you are caught using drugs, the penalty is generally a lengthy imprisonment and a heavy fine. However, if you caught bringing drugs into the country, trying to take them out of the country, or trafficking in them, you could very well face the death penalty. Back in 2005, an Australian-Vietnamese man was brining back some 400 grams of heroin back to Australia. His flight involved a transfer at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Airport police, noticing an unusual bulge after he set off a metal detector, found heroin on him. Just bringing 10 grams of the stuff into Singapore is enough for the death penalty and it is mandatory. Also, bringing in 500 grams of cannabis (marijuana) or 200 grams of cannabis resin is enough to be hanged. And the justices of the court of appeal in Singapore are notoriously unforgiving for drug charges. Poverty or family financial problems is not an excuse as far as they are concerned.
You must log in to post a comment.
{ 1 trackback }