More than 17,000 foreign teachers are working in South Korea but many have had to put up with poor working conditions in silence. Now a newly formed association has been set up by teachers to lobby government for a better protection and to raise the profile of this marginalised workforce. James Card investigates the challenges that lie ahead.

Angry union workers wearing red headbands and banging gongs, surrounded by riot police armed with plastic kendo swords and Plexiglas shields are a common sight in South Korea. From bank employees to illegal migrant workers and even prostitutes, workers have banded together to defend their livelihoods, taking to the streets to make their voices heard.

However one group of workers, currently numbering about 17,500, has so far kept out of Korea’s highly charged industrial relations, although they have reason to be militant. They are English language teachers from Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Some now feel that the time has come to speak with a unified voice against poor working conditions.

The Association for Teachers of English (Atek), co-founded in March by Tom Rainey-Smith of New Zealand and the Canadian Jason Thomas, aims to provide that voice. Described as a union in the Korean press, Atek is careful to avoid that label, preferring to characterise itself as a professional association.

According to Atek’s mission statement, it aims to represent the opinions of teachers, to advance English language education as a profession through ethics and best practices and to improve living and working conditions. It will represent its members across the wide spectrum of Korea’s education industry and provide a community for teachers to advance shared goals.

Rest the rest at the Guardian Weekly.

Copyright © James Card.