Reverse Bias

Nearly all foreigners have some experience with bias here in Korea. But sometimes, things aren’t always so anti-foreigner here in Korea. Sometimes, it’s even the ethnic Koreans who take it on the chin.

Recently, when the visa laws were changed foreign teachers holding E-2 (employment) visas were asked to submit to drug tests.  However, Korean teachers and even those foreigners with F visas (married to a Korean) are exempt from such invasive tests.

But in professional sports, it’s the Koreans who were subject to the testing and foreigners were given a wink and a nod.  According to the Korea Times, “Korean professional teams have been asking their import players to take tests upon signing a KBO contract, but they have all refused.”  Korean players, meanwhile, have been subjected to the random screenings regularly. Apparently, bring in enough money in the form of fans ( or students) and you, too, can refuse to take the drug tests.

That, according to Jeong Keum-jo of teh Borean Baseball Organization, will all change. Daniel Rios, a foreigner who played here in Korea was an ok player, but suddenly improved and was ranked Best Player in 2007. When he later went to Japan, he tested positive for anabolic steroids bringing into question his performance here in Korea.

Now all players, foreign and domestic, will be subject to the testing.  There now. Don’t you feel better about the discrimination?

There’s still the philosophical pondering one might contemplate of the penalties.  Take steroids and play better: get suspended for 10 games. Smoke weed and feel better: get a one way ticket home or to the cross-bar hotel.