How a Small Suggestion Made its way to the Prime Minister's Office

Mark Neville I work as the coordinator for EPIK in Gwangju metropolitan city. Talk to any other coordinator and I am sure that they would agree with me when I say we are generally quite busy! Sometimes, when I need a breather, I take a break by reading the news. Our office receives several newspapers on a daily basis and thankfully, they also receive the Korean Herald. One day, last February, I took such a break and began to read the daily paper. To my surprise, I noticed on the bottom of the front page that there was a small advertisement. Typically, advertisements are not on the first page, so it caught my attention. Even more interesting was that this advertisement was from the Prime Minister's Office, so it had nothing to do with anyone trying to sell something. That made me all the more curious to read it. The advertisement was asking about suggestions on regulatory reform for foreigners in Korea. The Prime Minister's Office was looking for suggestions on how to ease the daily troubles foreigners have here, from a government viewpoint. A prize would be given to those whose suggestions were chosen as well. A few things popped into my head instantly but I shrugged off sending in my suggestions because I believed no one would care, that my suggestions were not worthwhile and even if they were, they would hit a brick wall. I finished up my quick break and went back to work. However, the next day I took another quick break to read the paper. There again was the advertisement. This time, something in me awoke. Maybe I was in a better mood or perhaps something someone told me a long time ago came to mind. I cannot remember who told me but when I was younger, I remember hearing some wise advice that went something like this: "There are two types of people: people who complain and do nothing and people who complain and try to do something about it." I figured that I should at least try. What was the worst that could happen? At least then, if I tried and no one listened, I could justify my complaints, right? So I wrote a quick email, safe behind the anonymity of my personal email address about things that could be changed. I suggested a few things but I felt I had two really good suggestions. The first was to create a centralized organization to handle all the documents we must submit (ask anyone who has worked at several private schools and public schools here on how many things they have to submit and they'll tell you it's a nightmare!) Plus, I am sure you would all agree with me in that while it is hard to get the documents you need to teach here when you are back home, it is even harder to get these documents where you are already in Korea! The second was to extend our visas or at least, realign them so that they expire when our contracts end. Back when I first came to Korea (in 2003) I accidentally overstayed my visa by 3 days. I can still remember the hissy-fit the ground stewardess had when I went for check-in at the airport. Thankfully, I had brought a friend along because I thought there might be a problem. After some hectic running around in two airports and filling out a bunch of paperwork, I managed to leave without a hefty fine or punishment. I made it a point to always check my visa expiry date after that day (maybe you should check your visa expiry date right now?) When I started working here in Gwangju as the coordinator, to my surprise, all the teachers we had hired had visa's that expired about a week before their contracts expired. I reminded the teachers about this but thought to myself, "why haven't they fixed this yet?" After sending in my suggestions, I quickly forgot about them. I hoped someone would read them and at least consider them but thought nothing more of it. Even if they liked and used my ideas, I would be happy just with that. To my surprise, I checked my inbox one day in early July and there was an email from a spokesperson from the Prime Minister's Office. I was told that they liked some of my suggestions and that they wanted me to come to an awards ceremony and to have tea in Seoul! My colleagues, my wife and the teachers were quite proud of me when I told them! I did not think it was a big deal but to everyone else around me, it seemed huge! Even to this day, I'm still surprised when I think back to how they all reacted. It was a unique experience going to the Prime Minister's office. I grew up in a suburb of Toronto and had a relatively quiet childhood. For me, this was the first time going to a higher-level government office. My co-worker had to come on business and helped me navigate the building and past security to the 8th floor. Shortly afterwards, I met several members of the Prime Minister's office, who were very kind and as is the Korean standard, had excellent hospitality. They had chosen several other winners as well so I had a chance to talk to a few of them. Then, we went for a group photo and had a small awards ceremony. I was given a very big and nice parchment and a gift certificate as a reward. That was a nice and unexpected bonus! Then we went for tea where they addressed each of us personally and talked for a while as a group. I was told that they liked my two suggestions and would consider implementing parts of them at some point in the future. I was also contacted by a reporter for OBS (a Korean online news network) as they wished to do a short interview with me. This was also a first. What I found really amusing was that they did a 15 minute interview with me, but I was only in the video clip for 10 seconds! Still, I was honoured to be interviewed and grateful for the opportunity. As far as I can see now, as of this September, they will extend visas to 13 months, instead of 12. That means you guys shouldn't have to worry about going to Immigration to extend your visas again. It is a small thing but it prevents mistakes on our parts and makes things easier. It might even give some people time to travel around after they finish without fear of having to leave the country right after they finish. It also seems that they have changed the visa process as well. Some things seem more difficult (I didn't propose those things haha!) but it seems we do not have to hand in transcripts anymore and you won't have to hand in your diploma if you are changing jobs while you are here. Hopefully this makes things a bit easier for everyone in the end. I am sure most of you can see that the moral of the story here is to try. Had I not tried, perhaps no other suggestions along those lines would have made it to the Prime Minister's office. Too often, I think we doubt ourselves and second-guess our instincts. It is quite easy to think that it is hard to change anything, especially as a foreigner in another country, but I am proof that it is possible. I am really grateful that there are people who are willing to listen to our ideas and thoughts and that it is possible to change things for the better. Better to try and fail than to never try at all right?