Very interesting posting over at Gusts of Popular Feeling about whether or not the President of Seoul National University of Education really said this quote that was published in the Korea Times:

Song also stressed that Korean teachers should replace native English-speaking teachers as soon as possible. “Currently, only 20.5 percent of native English speaking teachers (at schools) have teaching licenses (according to data from the Education Ministry, November 2008), so it is urgent for us to foster teachers who have excellent English proficiency,” Song said.

“The native speakers are not qualified and are often involved in sexual harassment and drugs.”  [Korea Times]

Ben Wagner who has been an active commenter here on the ROK Drop in regards to the HIV testing of foreigners in Korea issue contacted the SNUE President Song Kwang-yong who allegedly made the statement and Song says that the KT misquoted him.  Misquoting by the Korean media is really nothing new and usually intentionally done.  Just ask former USFK commander General B.B. Bell who the Korean media often misquoted. 

The author of the misquote is a man by the name of Kang Shin-who and judging by this posting from Brian in Jeollanam-do this guy appears to have it out for English teachers.  This makes it likely that he made this quote up for his own inflammatory reasons.  If you are an English teacher who is unhappy about this intentional misquote another ROK Drop commenter King Baeksu has left contact information for the Kore Times here. 

Remember that people complaining about a prior KT columnist Jon Huer eventually led to him being discontinued with the Korea Times and possibly if enough people voice their displeasure with Kang maybe he will be shown the door as well.  It is either that or the KT is happy to now become known as the National Enquirer of Korea.  Can we expect to be reading quotes from Elvis teaching English to elementary kids in Anyang next?