Party-Government Council Held to Strengthen School Safety
Emergency School Safety Inspection to Be Conducted Through New Semester Preparation Team
Support for Treatment and Normal Return of High-Risk Teachers
Regular Mental Health Self-Assessment and Psychological Support for All Teachers
Face-to-Face Handover for First and Second Graders Participating in Neulbom School
Expansion of CCTV Installation in School Blind Spots and Increase in SPOs
On the 17th, the ruling party and the government agreed to introduce an emergency response team (tentatively named the Teacher Job Suitability Review Committee) to assess the suitability of teachers' job performance and to strengthen the authority to review the suspension and reinstatement of high-risk teachers.
They also agreed to establish a principle of face-to-face handover and accompanying return home for first and second graders participating in Neulbom School, while expanding the installation of CCTV in blind spots within schools and increasing the number of School Police Officers (SPOs) to inspect safety inside and outside school premises.
Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Committee Chair of the People Power Party, announced these discussion results to reporters after the 'Party-Government Council for Strengthening School Safety' held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, stating, "We decided to promptly push forward the tentatively named Haneul-i Act."
Chairman Kim first said, "We will thoroughly investigate to accurately ascertain the facts related to the Daejeon elementary school incident," adding, "We will also investigate the psychological and emotional stability of students and staff, and to prevent similar accidents, we will conduct an emergency nationwide school safety inspection through the 2025 school year new semester preparation inspection team and make every effort to strengthen safety measures."
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party-government meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th to strengthen school safety. 2025.2.17 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
They plan to support treatment and normal return for teachers who have been subject to administrative leave due to mental illness and to conduct regular mental health self-assessments and psychological support for all teachers. Chairman Kim explained, "By the first half of this year, we plan to develop and install a teacher-tailored psychological testing tool on the main website of the Education Activity Protection Center and promote the activation of mental health self-diagnosis. For counseling and treatment, we will cooperate with 32 Education Activity Protection Centers nationwide, 1,192 counseling institutions, and 218 psychological treatment institutions to provide counseling and psychological treatment support for all teachers."
As a measure for first and second graders participating in Neulbom School, they plan to strictly apply the principle of escorting students to the handover point within the school and handing them directly to their guardians. Exceptions will only be allowed with a consent form if the guardian strongly wishes for the child to return home independently. Furthermore, at least two personnel will support the students' return home until the last student leaves, and to systematize return home notifications, each education office will develop its own system.
Jo Jeong-hoon, a ruling party member of the National Assembly Education Committee, who participated in the meeting, said, "Parents expressed great concern that what happened last week was even more shocking and surprising than an R-rated incident, and they were very worried about such incidents being indiscriminately exposed to elementary school students." He added, "They themselves cited other overseas legislative examples and said they hoped that Korea would also impose reporting restrictions on very serious child crimes, so we decided to review whether similar legislation is necessary."
He continued, "They said they hope there will be no stigma effect during the diagnosis and treatment of teachers with depression, and during the process of separating them from the school site and reinstating them. They also mentioned that the principle of immediate exclusion when a teacher becomes high-risk may conflict with this, but they hope the legislation will harmonize these aspects and be enacted quickly."
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party-government meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th to strengthen school safety. 2025.2.17 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
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