Anti-English Spectrum, irony, in the news again.

The Marmot's Hole brings us a story from the Chosun Ilbo that says Dave's ESL Cafe contains loads of threads demeaning Korean women and Korean culture. Because women are usually afforded plenty of opportunities for advancement and enrichment in South Korea, and aren't sexually exploited in the least by Korean men and women. I'll let you read his post on your own.

The part worth drawing attention to is that the group "The Citizens Group for Proper English Education" (his translation) was contacted for comment. Don't be fooled by the new name, this is the online cafe that was established as the "Anti-English Spectrum," and the url name reveals that fact. Today there's a wholesome picture of a child studying at the top of the page, but the earlier banner was less friendly.



The misuse of the hyphen makes it seem like they are opposed to English, rather than just the website English Spectrum which attracted their ire and which launched the cafe in the first place. You can read up on "Spectrumgate" here, but basically in 2005 a bunch of netizens came across some threads on a previous incarnation of EnglishSpectrum.com that talked about sexual adventures with Korean women, and which featured pictures of Korean women dancing with foreign men at bars. Pretty objectionable posts, yes, but the netizens launched a campaign of hatred and violence that resulted in the US Embassy in Seoul issuing a warning to foreign-looking men to avoid certain parts of Seoul.

Recently, inflammatory sexual content was posted to a website for English language teachers in Korea. That posting together with subsequent postings were taken by some to demean Korean women. We have noted recently, strong reaction in the form of web postings threatening attacks in the vicinity of Hongik University and the Sinchon area against Americans and other foreigners who speak English. All Americans and their families (especially young adults) are encouraged to exercise prudence and caution when visiting these neighborhoods. The Embassy advises that inappropriate social behavior in public may be seen as provocative by Korean nationals.

As an example, The Marmot's Hole cited an online petition and a "Counter-Yankee Strike Force":

The Korean portal site Daum has also started a petition signing campaign to expel “low-quality foreign teachers.” They’re looking for 10,000 signatures, and they’ve got about 3,931. The campaign is also recruiting a “[Counter-] Yankee Strike Force.” They say the use of violence is prohibited, but they’d like to get together and hold a protest demonstration. There targets are 1) the “Yankee bastards” who put up the instructions on how to molest female students, and their accomplices; 2) the “Yankee bastards” who threw the wild party in Hongik; 3) the club owner; 4) institute owners who hire ex-cons or under-qualified teachers; 5) as a “bonus,” drunk GIs who might be in the Shinchon area starting fights with local citizens. Membership is open to all Korean nationals (no kyopos allowed, apparently — perhaps the organizers read this) with “wholesome thoughts (more like worldview).” They’ll meet at 6:00 p.m. Saturday near the front gate of Hongik. Be there… or be square.

The group was given some attention earlier in the year from the Korea Times, which ran a glowing review of the "Citizens' Association for Lawful English Education," which said its aims were to improve the quality of English education in Korea by removing unqualified native speakers.

A Civic group said that its actions to expel illegal English teachers will help upgrade the image of legal foreign educators.

As part of this campaign, the article said that some members follow foreigners around to see if they're doing anything illegal. Something illegal like stalking and harassment, I guess. Korea Beat translated the group's statement of purpose, in which their passion to end foreign teachers seems to outstrip their goals to improve English education:

We gather here to do two things for that journey.

Anger at the arrogant English Spectrum, alive and well as ever despite criticism for its debasement of Korean women, and the expulsion of illegal, low-quality English instructors.

The small but powerful country, the Republic of Korea!

We are Anti-English Spectrum, fighting for justice for a land whose heart is not yet shriveled up.

Our work holds meaning for our country and our society. We do it together!

This is the citizens’ movement for the expulsion of illegal foreign language teachers.

Regardless of your opinion on foreign teachers as a whole, or on some demographics in particular, keep in mind what factors are going into fueling the resentment against them felt by too many Korean English teachers and parents. And regardless of your opinions of Dave's ESL Cafe, don't forget what kind of group is out there leading the charge against foreign teachers. Like the violent anti-American protests of 2002 and 2003, "Spectrumgate" is a chapter of "our" history we shouldn't forget, and a reminder of how ugly our neighbors can be.