"Deserved to be hit, then begged for forgiveness"... Teacher who bruised an elementary student and changed their story

Along with corporal punishment, forcing students to lie face down and stretch
Parents submitted petitions for severe punishment, but investigation delayed

A teacher who physically punished an elementary school student to the point of bruising was reported to have said, referring to the 'corporal punishment incident' that occurred at Seo-i Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, "Now it is okay to use corporal punishment." On the 24th, JTBC's 'Incident Commander' aired an interview with A, the parent of the victim child. According to the Jeonju Deokjin Police Station in Jeonbuk, A filed a complaint with the police last December against B, a male teacher in his 40s, on charges of child abuse.

A claimed that B had punished students over the past year by hitting them with a stick or forcing them to lie face down. B threatened the students not to tell anyone about the punishment. A only learned about the corporal punishment after receiving a call from another parent saying, "My child said they were hit by the homeroom teacher." B reportedly referenced the controversial 'Seo-i Elementary School' incident from last year, claiming, "Now teachers are allowed to hit students." He also said, "I will be transferred to another place next year, so I don't care if you report me."

Mr. A claimed that Mr. B, a teacher, had administered corporal punishment over the past year by hitting students with a stick or forcing them to lie face down.
[Photo by JTBC 'Case Manager']

When A called to protest, B retorted, "I hit them to make them realize and because they deserved it," adding, "If you want to report me, go ahead." B contacted the parents only three weeks after the incident was reported on December 27 last year, apologizing by saying, "I was so flustered during the call that I said anything; I am sorry and please forgive me." The victim's parents criticized this, saying, "It seems like he wrote the apology letter to receive leniency legally," and "There is no sincerity or remorse shown."

A said, "The case has been transferred to the prosecution, but there has been no progress," adding, "We submitted petitions and complaints demanding punishment to the court, but since the prosecutor in charge changed, no investigation has been conducted." She further stated, "Seeing that B filed complaints with the Teachers' Labor Union and the Human Rights Center and hired a lawyer, it seems he is trying to buy time to escape responsibility." She added, "It is clearly child abuse, and I hope the teacher is arrested and reflects on his actions for behaving so indiscriminately toward powerless children," and "After being punished, I hope he works in a different job, not as a teacher."

15% of Elementary, Middle, and High School Students Say 'Corporal Punishment Still Exists in Schools'

According to the results of the "2nd Seoul Student Human Rights Survey" conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in February 2020, the response rate indicating the occurrence of physical violence was over 15% across elementary, middle, and high schools. The results of student human rights surveys in regions other than Seoul were not significantly different.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In 2011, the 'Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act' was enacted, prohibiting corporal punishment using tools or hands and feet, legally banning some forms of corporal punishment. In 2015, the 'Child Welfare Act' was also amended to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment against children. However, corporal punishment has always existed in domestic schools and the public education system since their establishment.

Although the outward appearance or trends may have changed somewhat in the past and present, the premise that "teachers can punish students at their discretion" has not significantly changed. According to the '2nd Seoul Student Human Rights Survey' conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in February 2020, over 15% of elementary, middle, and high school students reported experiencing physical violence. The results of student human rights surveys in regions outside Seoul were not significantly different.

However, following the death of the Seo-i Elementary School teacher, voices have grown among teachers advocating for strengthening the authority to discipline students based on their own judgment and for exemption from liability for such actions. In response, the Ministry of Education announced the 'Notice on Student Life Guidance by Teachers' (hereinafter referred to as the Student Life Guidance Notice) at the end of August, declaring that the state guarantees teachers' use of physical force against students under the term 'physical restraint.'

Although the notice includes the caveat of 'in urgent cases,' it is vague and open to arbitrary interpretation, raising concerns among some. The degree of urgency is also left to the teacher's judgment. Additionally, it states that teachers may assign 'tasks' as a form of discipline, which has raised concerns that corporal punishment such as so-called 'writing lines' may be reinstated.