"From a Day of Gratitude to a Day of Fear"... Teachers Speak Out

Gwangju KTU: "It Should Be Teachers' Day, Not Just Teachers' Appreciation Day"
"Teachers Are Citizens and Workers... Guarantee Their Rights First"
"No Restoration of Education Without Political and Labor Rights"

On May 14, the day before Teachers' Day, the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) issued a statement, saying, "Teachers are facing this day with fear and exhaustion rather than pride," and called for the restoration of teachers' authority and the protection of labor rights.

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In its statement, the Gwangju branch of the KTU said, "Today, teachers must be on edge even over a single document regarding integrity, and even a message from a former student feels burdensome. Teachers' Day is no longer a day of gratitude, but a day of burden and vigilance for teachers."

The statement continued, "From accidents during field trips to knife attacks on school grounds, the educational environment is no longer a safe zone. Yet, all responsibility continues to fall on teachers. How long will teachers and students be left in this unreasonable system?"

The KTU also criticized current education policies. "Policies that are out of touch with reality, such as AI digital textbooks, the integration of early childhood education and care, and the high school credit system, are being unilaterally implemented without gathering teachers' opinions. If teachers had the basic political rights guaranteed by the Constitution, much of today's confusion could have been reduced," the union argued.

Concerns were also raised about teachers' mental health. According to a joint survey conducted by the KTU and the Jeon Taeil Medical Center, 76.1% of teachers are experiencing severe burnout, and a Ministry of Education survey found that 72.1% of teachers reported psychological stress. The KTU emphasized, "The repeated cases of teachers making extreme choices each year are no longer individual problems, but structural ones."

The KTU stated, "Teachers' Day must be reborn as 'Teachers' Day' in the true sense," adding, "We must guarantee practical rights and an environment in which teachers can focus on education with pride."