South Korea’s Lee orders public debate on school field trips, review of teacher liability

President Lee Jae-myung on April 30 ordered officials to gather views from across society on school field trips and to review whether teachers face unreasonable legal burdens, amid what has been dubbed the “picnic controversy.”
 
Senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said at an afternoon briefing at Chunchugwan that Lee directed the government to collect opinions through an open public debate involving teachers, parents and experts on school experiential learning trips.
 
Kang said Lee also instructed the Education Ministry and the Justice Ministry to examine whether teachers are being subjected to unfair responsibility and whether the scope of legal liability and immunity needs adjustment.
 
At a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on April 28, Lee said he had heard that schools are increasingly avoiding picnics and class trips. “A picnic or a class trip is also part of instruction, isn’t it?” he said, adding, “You shouldn’t throw out the whole jar because you’re worried about maggots.”
 
Cheong Wa Dae explained the next day, April 29, that Lee’s remarks were aimed at strengthening protections for teachers from safety accidents during field learning and ensuring they can carry out their core duties despite heavy workloads.