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PRESS RELEASE
For immediate releaseContact: Dann Gaymer, Communications DirectorMobile: 010-2335-4999, media@atek.or.krThe Association for Teachers of English in Koreawww.atek.or.kr/ 2009 December 4: ATEK Applauds Balanced Press(Seoul, South Korea)— The Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK) wouldlike to show it's appreciation for a recent series of articles that show foreign teachers inKorean in a fair and positive light, while also giving fair representation to our ownorganization.The November 30 edition of The Hankyoreh featured four articles showing foreignteachers in a positive light, one of them concerning ATEK. We feel this is significantbecause it is rare to see articles dealing with the problems that foreign English teachersface, both in the English and Korean language press. Many news outlets would ratherpublish sensationalist reports concerning the misdeeds of a small minority of foreignteachers rather than addressing the issues that face the majority of law abiding, dedicatedforeign English teachers.In relation to these recent articles ATEK president Greg Dolezal stated,"To have such positive articles not only published in the mainstream media but publishedin Korean is a huge step in the right direction for the public image of foreign teachers. Weare optimistic about relations with the Korean press and look forward to more fair andbalanced articles relating to foreign teachers."Dolezal also added,"We would also like to commend The Hankyoreh for the integrity and ethical approachthey have taken in these stories with regards to foreign English teachers. We hope thattheir standards will be the bench mark that others in the Korean press strive to achieve."While ATEK does not dispute the right and duty of news outlets to report on foreignteachers, whether the news is positive or negative, we only ask that these stories shouldbe presented fairly and without bias.Previously a number of articles have been published painting foreign teachers in aparticularly poor light, primarily by giving a voice to the Anti English Spectrum, a hategroup whose Naver page includes racist material relating to foreign teachers. Themembers of the group engage in vigilante tactics, while at the same time spreading highlydefamatory material, such as the claims that foreign teachers have AIDS and arepurposely infecting Koreans.
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