Jeonnam Police Hold Meeting on Teacher Child Abuse Cases

Hearing Opinions from Related Organizations on the Nation's First Submission of Superintendent's Opinion Document

On the 21st, the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 22nd that it held a case meeting involving related organizations and private experts regarding the "child abuse case occurring during teachers' student guidance," for which the superintendent's opinion was submitted for the first time nationwide.

This meeting was held in accordance with Article 17 (Mandatory Submission of Superintendent's Opinion on Child Abuse Cases) of the newly established "Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers' Status and Protection of Educational Activities (Teacher Status Act)" enacted on September 27.

This initiative was promoted as laws and systems related to child abuse were revised to prevent indiscriminate child abuse reports that undermine teachers' legitimate educational activities, and to seek harmonious solutions between protecting teachers' rights and children's welfare.

The meeting was attended by five organizations and private experts, including the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Unit, Jeonnam Office of Education's Superintendent, Mokpo City Hall's Child Protection Team, Western Region Child Protection Agency, and clinical psychologists from counseling centers, who exchanged opinions.

In particular, the standards for child discipline acts stipulated in the "Notice on Teachers' Student Guidance," the criteria for teachers' legitimate acts according to precedents, and support measures for children were discussed intensively.

One committee member who participated in the meeting said, "Until now, there was no opportunity to speak to investigative agencies about the difficulties teachers face in student guidance, so it was good to be able to express and listen to various opinions," expressing a positive response and hoping that case meetings will be held frequently in the future.

The Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Unit stated, "We will continue to activate the participation of related organizations, NGOs, and expert groups in cases requiring professional intervention and supervision (training, consultation, and other professional guidance and oversight) to ensure fairness and reliability in investigations."