A 3rd Grade Elementary Student Assaults a Female Teacher in Her 40s... Teacher Takes Sick Leave Due to Shock

"Why don't you take my side?" Protester punches with fist
Elementary school holds Teacher's Rights Protection Committee to consider punishment

An incident occurred in an elementary school in Gunwi-gun, Gyeongbuk, where a student assaulted their homeroom teacher. The Gyeongbuk Provincial Office of Education is investigating the facts. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] An incident occurred in Gunwi, Gyeongbuk, where an elementary school student assaulted their homeroom teacher, prompting the Gyeongbuk Office of Education to launch an investigation.

According to the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, on the morning of the 24th, A, a third-grade student at an elementary school in Gunwi County, punched his 40-year-old female homeroom teacher in the face during the fourth period physical education class on the school playground. The Gyeongbuk Office of Education announced on the 29th that they are currently investigating the facts.

During the fourth period physical education class on the 24th, A, who was playing ball games with friends, became dissatisfied with the game results and hit a classmate, C. When the homeroom teacher intervened and scolded him, A protested, saying, "Why don't you take my side?" and reportedly punched the teacher.

The homeroom teacher has been in shock since the incident and has taken sick leave from the day of the incident until the 2nd of next month, not attending work. Currently, other teachers are taking turns conducting classes for the affected class.

The school plans to hold a School Authority Protection Committee meeting on the 8th of next month to consider disciplinary action against A. The assault on the classmate has been separately registered as school violence, and procedures of the School Violence Countermeasures Committee will proceed.

According to the Ministry of Education, there have been more than 2,500 cases of infringement on teacher authority annually, except for 2020 and 2021. As of the first semester this year, there were 1,596 cases, with infringements mainly consisting of insults and defamation by students and parents (56%), followed by injury or assault (10.5%).

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has decided to record disciplinary actions taken against students related to 'infringement on teacher authority,' which disrupts teachers' classes and educational activities, in the school life records. On the 29th, the Ministry released a draft of the 'Plan to Prevent and Strengthen Response to Educational Activity Infringement.' On the 30th, a public hearing will be held with education-related parties, including teacher organizations and parents, to gather opinions.