'Change Seats' Assault Leaves Homeroom Teacher Unconscious... Yet "Don't Report to Police"

It was recently revealed that a high school student in Gwangju assaulted his homeroom teacher because he was unhappy with his seat assignment last June. The female teacher lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital, and the male student was expelled.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education on the 5th, on the morning of June 30, in a second-year classroom at a high school in Gwangju, a 16-year-old student, A, repeatedly punched his homeroom teacher, Teacher B, in the face and other parts of the body.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo by Yonhap News TV]

At that time, the class was arranging seats by drawing lots during the first period. Student A protested to Teacher B because he was not assigned to the seat he wanted.

Teacher B said, "Since it is an agreement with classmates in the same class, I cannot change the seat," and enraged, Student A threw 2 to 3 punches at Teacher B.

The assault reportedly lasted about five minutes in the classroom. Eventually, Teacher B collapsed and was transported to the hospital by the 119 emergency medical team dispatched after reports from other students and teachers. Teacher B, who received inpatient treatment at the time, is now reported to have recovered her health.

The school reported the incident to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education on the day it occurred and held a Teacher's Rights Protection Committee meeting on July 5, five days later, deciding to expel Student A.

The Teacher's Rights Protection Committee can impose disciplinary actions ranging from No. 1 (school service) to No. 6 (transfer), and No. 7 (expulsion) on students who interfere with educational activities. Teacher B was provided with medical expenses and special leave. However, no police report was filed.

Regarding the absence of a police report, the Metropolitan Office of Education explained that it was not mandatory, and since Teacher B, who reached an agreement with Student A, did not wish to file a report, it was not submitted. They also stated that measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of violations of teachers' rights.

Earlier, on the 1st, the Ministry of Education announced the application of the "Notice on Teachers' Guidance of Student Life" to schools.

According to the notice, teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools can separate students who disrupt class by moving them to other seats within the classroom or to designated places outside the classroom to ensure the teacher's right to teach and other students' right to learn. If a student is separated more than twice a day but continues to disrupt educational activities, they can be handed over to their guardians for home study.