Andre Fisher (Part 2) – Lessons for All
Every foreigner fears accidentally breaking local law and ending up on an episode of Locked Up Abroad.
Late last year, outside a club in Seoul, Pvt. Andre M. Fisher allegedly robbed a taxi driver and then resisted arrest. He maintains his innocence of the theft charge, but with limited evidence, it’s become a game of “he-said, she-said” played out in a foreign courtroom in an unknown language.
Every foreigner fears accidently breaking a local law and ending up on an episode of Locked Up Abroad. But how can we avoid similar situations here in Gwangju? Fisher claims he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time; however, there are a few things that could have helped him avoid the situation, or at least the stress of waiting in prison for months.
1) Be aware of your surroundings.
Korea is extremely safe, so it can be easy to forget that there can be unknown, unexpected dangers. Fisher claims that he was talking on his phone when he saw several men approach a cab and then walk away. Seconds later, the cab driver claimed robbery.
If Fisher really wasn’t involved, had there been an opportunity for him to separate from the entire incident? While there’s no reason to become paranoid and assume the worst in every situation, there is reason to be responsibly aware, and know when to get out.
2) Know your friends.
It is easy to become fast friends with other foreigners who speak the same language and have a similar worldview. Fisher reports that he wasn’t alone that night, but was actually with a friend whom he had “just met.” He stops short of confessing that this “friend” was involved in the theft, but he makes it clear that he didn’t trust this person. Remember that a friend you choose now may later be seen as a partner in crime.
3) Learn the language.
There are a multitude of reasons to learn Korean, especially if you intend to live here for a year or more. Fisher admits that, after 22 months in Korea, he didn’t know Korean well and wasn’t exactly sure what was occurring that night, or for much of his legal proceedings. (He was represented by an English-speaking Korean attorney, and members of the U.S. government monitored his trial to ensure it was fair).
If, at the time of the incident, he had been able to explain his innocence in Korean and offer any information as to who the actual assailant was, would he be in the same situation? Even if so, perhaps he would have felt less helpless throughout the process.
4) Remain calm when you don’t understand.
Even if you study Korean diligently, there are likely to be some situations you simply cannot comprehend. In Fisher’s case, he says he didn’t understand why the police were surrounding him. Instead of waiting calmly for the reason, he lashed out and caused serious damage to a police car – and probably the legitimacy of his case. Korea is a swift country. If you are calmly patient, it is likely that your wait for information (in English) will be short.
Note: Taxi drivers in Gwangju generally have a good reputation amongst the expat English teaching community, and appear to make a greater effort to engage in friendly conversation relative to drivers in other areas of Korea. This year has, however, already seen two incidents involving expat English teachers confronting taxi drivers.
In one situation the taxi driver baited and goaded a passing expat into responding. Whether anyone was in the right or wrong in either situation, both incidents progressed from verbal exchanges to physical aggression, and eventually resulted in potentially costly and exhaustive legal wrangles.
If you are an expat facing conflict with a local in any situation in Korea, stop, breathe, step back, contact a local Korean or expat with Korean language skills whom you trust, and get advice and support.
By Andrea Galvez
An earlier version of this article appeared
in the September 2011 print version of Gwangju News.