On October 9, as the Hangul Day holiday began, over 20,000 teachers gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Sacrificing their precious time off, they sat on the cold asphalt, holding placards and expressing deep urgency in their voices. The three teacher organizations—Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, National Teachers' Union, and Korean Teachers' Union Federation—came together for a large-scale joint action, transcending ideological differences for the first time since a memorial rally for teachers in Jeju on June 14 last year. This reflects the heightened sense of crisis regarding the state of classrooms and teachers' rights.
The teachers from across the nation criticized the limitations of a system that has only superficially changed, calling for the establishment of 'schools where teaching can occur' through 'protection of educational activities and the formulation of field-centered education policies.' Song Soo-yeon, chair of the Korean Teachers' Union Federation, stated, "Teachers are human too. When teachers endure police investigations and fierce legal battles with shame, and when they fear retaliatory and false child abuse reports, where is the state?" She urged for immediate amendments to the Child Welfare Act and related child abuse laws. Park Young-hwan, chair of the National Teachers' Union, criticized, "As child abuse reports and malicious complaints have become social issues, authorities have promised solutions and even formed task forces, but there has been no substantial progress, just rumors." Kang Joo-ho, president of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, questioned, "When a student assaults a teacher, how can it be acceptable for the teacher to be labeled as the perpetrator of child abuse? How can teachers provide confident education when they are left defenseless?"
Their cries are not mere collective self-interest or exaggerated complaints. The reality in classrooms has long surpassed the threshold of common sense. Teachers frequently face lawsuits for 'emotional child abuse' for temporarily separating students who are violent or for disciplining cheating during exams. Subjective feelings such as "I hurt the child's feelings" or "I caused shame" have become weapons for indiscriminate retaliatory lawsuits.
The current Article 17(5) of the Child Welfare Act contains a dangerously vague definition of 'emotional abuse,' allowing for arbitrary interpretations by parents that can turn teachers into suspects. During the months of investigations by law enforcement and local governments, teachers suffer under the fear of suspension, leading to emotional devastation. Even if they are cleared of charges, the irreversible psychological scars and personal ruin remain solely their burden. This dire situation has led to a reality where 'passive and defensive education' has become the survival strategy for teachers, rather than addressing problematic students.
Teachers are not just knowledge transmitters; they are educators shaping the future of South Korea. In classrooms where teachers are intimidated by malicious complaints and legal risks, creative talents and proper character cannot be nurtured. Establishing effective legal and institutional safety nets that allow teachers to focus solely on teaching is a fundamental duty of the state. The law must clearly delineate the boundaries between legitimate educational activities and emotional abuse, and there must be a strong obligation for school principals and education offices to legally represent and severely punish malicious complainants.
John Dewey, a leading figure in modern educational philosophy, emphasized, "Education is not merely a means of preparing for the future; it is life itself, and teachers are servants who maintain true order in society and lead healthy growth." There can be no hopeful future in a country where educators, who drive healthy societal growth, are forced into legal battles. The most urgent task for our society and political sphere is to fully return teachers, who are on the brink, from the asphalt back to the classrooms where children await.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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