Assemblyman Seodongyong Holds 'Discussion for Securing Educational Activities'

Seo Dong-yong, Kang Min-jung, Min Hyung-bae Lawmakers, Co-hosted by Jeon-gyo-jo

Amendments to Prevent False Accusations Against Teachers and Abuse of Reporting System

A debate will be held to discuss claims that the reporting procedures and processing systems for child abuse incidents within schools are even interfering with teachers' normal educational activities.

Under the current Child Abuse Punishment Act, there is a provision requiring immediate reporting if child abuse is suspected during a teacher's educational activities. However, this provision has been criticized for being abused, with normal educational activities being mischaracterized as emotional or verbal abuse and reported, causing ongoing issues.

[Photo by Seo Dong-yong's Office]

The debate, co-hosted by the Education Committee members Seo Dong-yong (Special Education Committee Chair, Democratic Party), Kang Min-jung, Min Hyung-bae, and the National Teachers' Cooperative (Chair Jeon Hee-young), will take place on the 12th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Presentations will be given by Kim Hye-young, a teacher at Saetteul Kindergarten in Jeonju, and Kang Young-gu, Director of Policy and Legal Affairs at the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU).

The presentations will examine actual cases from the field and diagnose legal shortcomings and limitations.

Cases will be introduced where homeroom teachers were replaced and teachers faced disciplinary actions such as suspension, pay cuts, leave, or dismissal solely based on allegations and reports of child abuse. Additionally, survey results will be presented showing that 61.4% of teachers reported for child abuse (complaints) were cleared of charges, while only 1.5% were found guilty.

This highlights the excessively harsh disciplinary measures and legal responses teachers must endure based solely on suspected child abuse reports.

In the subsequent discussion, it is expected that criticisms will be raised regarding the current Child Welfare Act and Child Abuse Punishment Act, which were designed to prevent child abuse within families but are uniformly applied in school settings, causing excessive fear among teachers and hindering normal educational activities.

According to a survey conducted last September by the KTU involving 6,243 teachers, 98.2% of respondents reported that teachers’ rights are violated during the child abuse reporting and processing procedures, and 92.9% of teachers expressed concern that they themselves might be suspected and reported for child abuse.

Meanwhile, there will also be arguments pointing out the lack of clear manuals for handling child abuse occurring within schools and emphasizing the need to actively remedy the harm to abused children and establish a robust safety net before discussing any reduction in the scope of the Child Abuse Punishment Act.

Statistics will be introduced showing cases such as a student who committed suicide after being scolded by a teacher, and the suicide rate among teenagers increasing from 6.5 per 100,000 in 2020 to 7.1 per 100,000 in 2021.

Seo Dong-yong, the lawmaker hosting the debate, pointed out that “the child abuse reporting procedures within schools have produced innocent victims through a one-sided processing process,” and announced that he has begun reviewing related legal amendments.

Seo stated that by gathering opinions from teachers, the field, and parents, the goal is to protect children's human rights and safeguard children from abuse, while also protecting teachers who suffer harm from misuse of the system, ensuring that normal educational activities in schools are guaranteed.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr