Many young, second-generation Koreans, and many Americans, are rushing to Korea to work as English teachers.
The Korean Consulate General in New York announced on April 26, 2010 that, according to internal consulate statistics, it issued 1,040 E2 visas for English teachers in 2009. All teachers have at least a bachelor's degree; among them were not only second-generation Koreans but also young Americans. The number of visas is up 21 percent over last year, but since 2007, it has risen over 124 percent.
According to statistics on E2 visas issued by the Korean Consulate General in New York, the rapid increase in visas in recent years is as follows: in 2000, the total number of visas issued was 121; in 2001, it rose to 148; subsequently, in 2002, the number climbed to 170; visas dropped slightly to 139 in 2003, but climbed again to 166 in 2004; and in 2005, the figure was 201. From 2006 onward, there has been a steep increase in the number of visas issued: in 2006, the number rose to 345; in 2007, to 464; in 2008, it almost doubled to 856; and in 2009, it exceeded 1,000 for a total of 1,040.
The Korean Consulate General in New York sees a connection between the soaring demand for visas and the recent increase in unemployment rates in America. Most applicants appear to be in a rush to secure employment and want to be selected quickly. Interestingly, unlike applicants before 2007, recent visas have been issued to people with degrees from so-called "elite universities", such as NYU or Columbia. This trend is also being seen nationwide at consular offices in Washington, D.C., L.A., and even in Texas. According to the Washington D.C Korean Consulate, last year, 68 of the 380 applicants were from among America's top 100 universities.
"These days, there are so many second-generation Koreans trying to get visas, and many Americans too that it is astounding, especially the number of applicants who have really excellent degrees. The number of interviews we give in the application process is really staggering," a New York Consulate spokesperson said.
