image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Korean language test preparation course for the first day of work in November
If you try to type a search term that “Korean language school” in the Internet Schools named like Korea, Hwaseong, Gogo Korea will appear in the search results. Your readers may never know that. Not many of these schools are in the Northeast.
and if you try to go into a little more detail You will find that young students who come to study do not come to study because of Korean series or K-pop. But they are all those who are preparing for the exam to work in South Korea separately.
Late one day in November at Udon Thani Vocational Development School A private vocational training school in Muang District, Udon Thani Province. About 30 young people aged 23 and over are starting to learn regarding the 10 single vowels of the Korean language in the first hour of class.
Letters and vowels that are lines and strokes in various shapes that are completely different from Thai language. Invites the author to feel how difficult it is to start learning a new language, having to learn all the basics in just 5 weeks.
Samut Sakhon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu and other provinces in the northeastern region are the provinces where young students from many professions come from. to attend this course
one young woman said She even quit to work as an employee at a gold shop. in order to prepare for specific classes
“Khem” Jiraporn Tensirirak, a 26-year-old woman from Lampang province, hopes to work in South Korea. Because the income is many times higher in Thailand than helping her mother in the grocery store at home. After finding a job with a higher vocational certificate (Diploma) in his hometown of Lampang, he might not
“If we stay at our house We only get this money, it’s enough, but it’s not enough to save.”
Khem’s relatives in Lampang They all went to work in Korea. She said that some people lost their money. 70,000-80,000 baht, going like a “little ghost”, but only lasted for 3 months, was arrested and sent back. Experiences that people around me encounter Made her decide to choose a delivery method in the system.
“If you go to be a little ghost, get arrested, you have to go to jail first. If we didn’t have any money at that time We still haven’t returned until we have money. to buy a return ticket It looks difficult here. If one day we go and we get sick and can’t find a doctor, it’s bad. So I choose to study better.”
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
“Khem” Jiraporn traveled from Lampang. to study in Udon Thani for 5 weeks
Khem is one of the tens of thousands of Thai workers each year. choose to do this And the first step for many people is to come to study Korean language courses. to prepare for language proficiency and work skills tests This is an exam that South Korea requires to apply to work through the foreign worker employment system (EPS – Employment Permit System).
The popularity of working in South Korea among the workers which has monthly income starting from around 50,000-60,000 baht, resulting in tens of thousands of people applying for language and work skills tests each year.
There are many Korean language schools like this one in Thailand. And it can be said that there are the most in the Northeast, such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Phanom, especially Udon Thani, with up to 8 locations, according to the numbers of the Division of Labor Administration Overseas. Department of Employment recorded that Population from the Northeast travel to work abroad higher than other sectors
Open a classroom for 5 weeks to a permit to work in Korea
2-3 two-story buildings in the same area with a vocational training room Cooking classroom where students in white cook clothes are studying and classrooms with virtual lecture tables and chairs on campus are places within the Udon Thani Vocational Development School. Non-formal schools recognized by the Ministry of Education and opened since 1989
this school Open to teach both Japanese And Korean language in 1 year, there are classes every 2 weeks. There will be more students coming to take exam preparation classes than other rounds, which the school owner said. Some years, more than 3,000 people come to learn Korean every year.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Korean language test preparation course for the first day of work in November
Amorn Intarachote, administrator of Udon Thani Vocational Development School Said to BBC Thai that Those who come to study come from a variety of occupations, many studies and come from many provinces, not only in the Northeast.
“Most Thai people focus on Korea as the number one country. No change matters. will only change from other countries to Korea, “said Amon.
Inside the classroom on the first floor, “Kru Nooknick” Chiranun Siangsai, a 28-year-old teacher, is teaching the basics of the language. She told BBC Thai that Unlike the middle school language classes she used to teach in five weeks, the workforce course prepares learners with basic communication skills in five weeks. It takes 2 years to study the basic language level.
“Korean is a new language for students. And learning is not limited to educational qualifications, it’s a little difficult. because each person’s learning level is different”
Jiranan described the process of studying in the classroom as The first week is to lay the foundation from consonants, vowels, and spelling to be able to read and write. At the level of learning words word by word. Second week. Will go into grammar together with the exam and insert the vocabulary. And will be in this format until complete 5 weeks. The difficult part of the exam is reading comprehension Grammatical additions daily life vocabulary and vocabulary in work in both industry, agriculture, and construction
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Study materials showing different types of working vocabulary are placed in every classroom.
The new generation has become the main group of learners.
This school has students from many provinces. Many of the youngest classrooms are regarding 22 years old, which meets the age criteria that Korea accepts, which is 18-39 years old.
“Koi” Juthamas Kraisorn, a 34-year-old female independent spa massage professional, traveled from Trat to study this particular course. And she was the oldest student in the class.
Koi has been working to support himself since he entered university. Worked as a PR employee in a department store. Until the end of schooling, he had done a variety of careers. Both in the electronics factory in Nava Nakorn, the rubber factory, doing rice farming, the last full time job is massage therapist in malaysia But when there was COVID, he traveled home.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Juthamas had experience working in Malaysia. Korea is now the country where she aims to work.
Koi has been working to support himself since he entered university. Worked as a PR employee in a department store. Until the end of schooling, he had done a variety of careers. Both in the electronics factory in Nava Nakorn, the rubber factory, doing rice farming, the last full time job is massage therapist in malaysia But when there was COVID, he traveled home.
If I had to go back now once more She said the ringgit had dropped several baht. not worth the tiredness therefore turning back to Thailand
“Working in Thailand, we are tired. Korea, we went to work and were tired. but compensation It’s not the same high, it’s low. Therefore, we must try to measure our fortunes,” Koi recounted determinedly. Along with comparing wages to see that Working in South Korea, the minimum wage is almost 2,000 baht per hour in Thai baht.
Not different from Suthat Sirisilp, a 28-year-old young man from Nakhon Phanom who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University. Decided to come back to work at home for 1 year following working in an electrical and electronics company in Bangkok. because the income following deducting the cost of living It’s no different from coming back to work as a beautiful knife maker in my hometown.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Inside the classroom, there is a virtual test via computer.
His turning point was to have to bear the mortgage of the family’s land. which Suthat said If in Thailand Just pay the debt and it’s gone. no hope to have capital
“But before, I didn’t think coming back home would have this burden. Still raising my parents, having some money to save Now have to pay off this debt. Therefore, there is no money to save each month, “he said, saying that if he might choose, he would want to work in the industry. and thought that I wanted to go as soon as possible
A few kilometers apart in downtown Udon Thani. Two commercial buildings Is the location of the Korean Suksa School Another Korean language school also just started a new set of classes that same week In the class there were young people in their early 20s sitting all over the room.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Thammarong Thiensi, owner of Korean Suksa School Another Korean language test preparation school Tell BBC Thai regarding the changes of people who want to go to work in Korea that he saw from those who came to study in the past several years that There is an increasing trend for higher levels of education. and a group of younger generations
“From before, m. 6, m. 3, nowadays, vocational certificates, bachelor’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, now almost half of them have come in. Half and half, if there are 20 people, 10 bachelor’s degrees … higher and higher educational qualifications used to teach until the completion of a master’s degree, “Thammarong told BBC Thai.
How difficult is it to legally work in Korea?
Legally working in South Korea Currently, there are both private shipments with E8 visas and government shipments. Through the labor delivery system between the government of South Korea and the government of the sending country or EPS with an E 9 visa.
Currently, South Korea has a memorandum of understanding like this with 16 countries such as Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, etc. South Korea will divide the labor quota how much each country can send every 2 years, 50,000-60,000 people per year through this system. started using in 2006
The EPS system does not limit the educational qualifications of workers. But must be 18-39 years old and pass the Korean Language Proficiency Test (EPS-TOPIK).
However, when looking at the number of Thai people in South Korea Thailand’s illegal workers are many times more than EPS workers. There are 16,686 Thai EPS workers (as of Sept. 30) in South Korea, while regarding 140,000 illegal workers.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Sample of Korean proficiency test preparation books
For the year 2022, Thailand received a quota to send only more than 3,900 workers, less than the average of 5,000 Thai workers per year during 2005-2017. Department of Employment Point out that this may be one reason to go to other illegal channels.
The passing statistics also indicate that Male workers were elected more by employers than female workers. with an average of more than 83% of the male workforce each year
Going to South Korea with the EPS method is open for applications to test the Korean language proficiency first. By opening a total of 3 rounds, the industry event received the most attention because of the best income in the 3 types of events.
Those who pass the exam will be sent information to the South Korean authorities. But this is not a guarantee that you will immediately go to work in South Korea. Workers’ names are registered for 2 years and wait for employers to choose. Some people may get a contract early, some may be more than 1 year, causing some people to choose smuggling methods to enter South Korea instead.
“I can’t answer whether it’s fast or slow because most men are faster than women. Women are a bit slow, some are fast, some are slow, some are 1-2 months, some are a year, some are almost 2 years, the contract has just arrived and has just flown,” said Amorn, the administrator of the Udon Thani Vocational Development School.
image source, Udon Thani Vocational Development School
for language test The criteria for passing exams is getting higher every year. For example, there are 30,000 applicants for the male labor industry exam this year, but only 8% pass the exam, even less than the number of seats that South Korea gives Thailand.
Korean Suksa School owner who has been working in the Korean language teaching industry for 20 years, said that the preparation time for Thai people is shorter than neighboring countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, which have at least 6 months to prepare and the uncertainty of each exam opening period Thai people do not have as much time to prepare for the exam as other countries.
“Thai people already know that If there is no plan to recruit, he does not study, will come to study when the announcement is announced for another 2 weeks, then apply and flock to study. It turns out that the preparation time is not enough, ”said Thammarong.
He also proposed that If the relevant agencies announce a definite plan a year in advance should help promote the preparation of workers to be more readily available
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
The price to pay for going right
Just thinking regarding going to work in Korea legally The first expense is Korean language tuition fee for exam preparation In general, a 5-week course, such as the school surveyed by the BBC Thai. The tuition fee is 9,500 baht per course, each school has different packages, such as dormitory fees, study materials or tutoring the exam until the exam is passed
This is an opportunity for this type of Korean language school. Happens a lot in Thailand. The Ministry of Labor told BBC Thai that it was exploring the numbers. But the administrators of Korean Suksa School said that There are 47 schools that are members of the private school group, and it is estimated that there are more than registered. Other independent Korean language teachers are not counted.
image source, NAPASIN SAMKAEWCHAM/BBC THAI
Korea Suksa School, Udon Thani Province
In addition, 3 students at BBC Thai have talked to say They have to prepare a lump sum of regarding 100,000 baht, including all expenses since the start of language learning. up to reserve costs and cost of living when arriving in Korea for the first month
“The airfare has been cut to 25,000 baht, our tuition fee is already 9,500, the visa fee, the medical examination fee, the amount that we submit to the police department, many more,” Juthamas told BBC Thai. along with telling the origin of the capital since “Probably let the house take the mortgage. If not, then we have to apply for a loan from him first.”
Calculated, the cost of going to work in Korea is 100,000 baht, equal to the minimum wage of Thai people for more than 11 months.
This may be some of the reasons why “little ghosts” have chosen to “take risks” smuggled into South Korea for decades.
