"School as a Space of Distrust" Half of Sexual Offender Staff Still in Schools

Repeated Cases of Teachers Caught for Sexual Crimes Including Illegal Filming at Schools
Over 500 Sexual Offense Staff in 3 Years... Half Still Retain Their Positions
Experts Call for Strong Enforcement of "One-Strike-Out" Policy

In 2018, participants at the School Me Too rally on Student Council Day were looking at a phrase demanding punishment for teachers who committed sexual crimes. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han, Intern Reporter Joohee Kang] Amid frequent occurrences of sexual crimes within schools, it has been identified that nearly half of the school staff who committed sexual offenses in the past three years are still teaching, increasing public anxiety. Although the seriousness of sexual crimes in schools has come to light following the 'School Me Too' movement exposing sexual violence on campus, criticism is mounting that responses remain lukewarm.

Experts emphasize the need to establish effective measures to prevent the recurrence of sexual crimes within schools.

According to the 'Status of Sexual Crimes by Elementary, Middle, and High School Staff in the Past Three Years' submitted by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Junyoung Bae of the United Future Party on the 27th of last month, a total of 552 staff members were disciplined for sexual crimes between 2017 and 2019.

Among them, 300 (54.3%) were dismissed or discharged and left the schools, but the remaining 252 received penalties such as demotion, suspension, or pay cuts and still maintain their staff status. Among the disciplined staff for sexual crimes, teachers accounted for the majority, totaling 490, which is 88% of the total.

The number of disciplinary cases for teachers' sexual crimes has steadily increased over the past three years. By year, there were △146 cases in 2017 △155 in 2018 △189 in 2019. Students were the most common victims, numbering 341 (62%), followed by 117 staff members and 94 general public individuals.

Earlier in May, incidents caused social uproar when active teachers in Gimhae and Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, were caught installing illegal cameras in girls' restrooms at schools. These teachers are currently suspended from their positions, but students express anxiety, saying "schools have become spaces of distrust."

The 'Gyeongnam A Teacher Illegal Filming Incident Response Group,' composed of graduates and current students of a high school in Goseong, Gyeongnam, held a press conference in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education on the 20th, stating, "We felt shock, betrayal, and anger as actions by a trusted teacher that we could not believe were revealed," adding, "We cannot help but suspect whether we were secretly filmed or if other crimes might occur. This is connected to the trust issue among school members. The school has turned into a space of distrust."

They further urged, "Immediately dismiss Teacher A, establish the provincial education office's own sentencing guidelines for digital sexual crimes to discipline offenders, accurately identify the scope of victims, and provide legal and medical support in a way that guarantees anonymity and safety for students requesting assistance."

On the 20th of last month, students from a school in Goseong, Gyeongnam, held a press conference demanding severe punishment for a teacher who was recently arrested for installing illegal hidden cameras and called for measures to be taken.
Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, since May last year, the government established the 'Gender Equality Policy Officer' positions in eight major institutions, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and National Police Agency, to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual violence crimes and build a foundation for gender equality policies. However, it has been confirmed that the Gender Equality Policy Officer for the education sector has remained vacant for several months since January, indicating poor operation.

Despite the continuous occurrence of sexual crimes within schools, policies to prevent recurrence are not properly implemented, leading to criticism that such measures are ineffective.

Rep. Bae criticized, "The 'Gender Equality Policy Officer' responsible for eradicating sexual crimes in educational institutions has been vacant since February this year," adding, "The Ministry of Education is negligent in managing staff, even requesting crime-related statistics, including school sexual crimes, from provincial education offices."

He continued, "The measures to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual violence in education, prepared by the Ministry of Education and related agencies following the 2018 Me Too incidents, have had no effect," emphasizing, "It is necessary to establish effective measures led by the Ministry of Education, not just formal policies."

Experts stress the need for strong measures such as implementing a 'one-strike-out system' for staff who commit sexual crimes to eradicate sexual crimes within schools.

Seunghee Seo, Director of the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, pointed out, "When sexual crimes occur in public education, a 'one-strike-out system' that immediately removes the offending teacher must be strongly enforced," adding, "It is absolutely wrong for offenders to return to educational settings where they meet children and adolescents, and if the case is recognized as a sexual crime through trial, dismissal or discharge should follow."

She continued, "It is problematic that the Ministry of Education officer responsible for implementing policies established to prevent recurrence after the 'School Me Too' movement is vacant. They only promote that such policies are being implemented, but they are not properly enforced," emphasizing, "It is important to appoint an officer with appropriate authority and position."

Director Seo suggested, "There is a need to raise overall gender sensitivity among school staff," and added, "Since it is very difficult for victims to seek help from external organizations when sexual crimes occur in schools, an educational system within schools that allows victims to talk about and handle experiences of sexual violence is necessary."