Controversy Over Drama "The Elementary School Student I Love"
KFTA Strongly Urges Immediate Suspension of Production
After news broke about the production of the drama "The Elementary School Student I Love," which centers on a romantic relationship between a female teacher and an elementary school student, a teachers' association immediately called for the production to be halted.
On July 1, the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) stated, "We strongly urge the immediate suspension of this drama's production, considering the negative impact it could have on society and educational settings, as well as the potential violence it may inflict on children and adolescents."
The KFTA criticized, "Teachers are in a position where they must build trust with their students and devote themselves to education with higher levels of morality and professionalism than those in other professions. Storylines in which a teacher abuses this position to develop private feelings for an underage student and turns this into a romantic relationship are not simply romance or fantasy; they are a clear glorification of grooming crimes."
The association further stated, "Attempts to sexualize children under the pretext of creativity and artistic originality can never be justified," and pointed out, "The subject matter of this drama will tarnish the honor of all educators who are dedicated to their work and will cause deep mistrust toward the entire teaching profession." They also expressed concern, saying, "It undermines the foundation of education, which is built on trust among teachers, students, and parents. If works like this are consumed by the public as romance or fantasy, there is a significant risk that the seriousness of grooming crimes occurring in reality will be downplayed, spreading a dangerous misconception that such acts are trivial."
The KFTA added, "The child actors who must portray such sensitive subject matter in the drama are inevitably exposed to psychological and emotional harm. Exposing children to such risks for commercial gain is itself another form of violence that cannot escape criticism." They further emphasized, "Inappropriate relationships between teachers and students violate the educational and moral values that all educators must uphold and undermine the very foundation of education. Such acts can never be tolerated and must be met with strict punishment to serve as a warning."
The KFTA said, "While we agree that freedom of creation should be fully guaranteed in the fields of culture and the arts," they stressed, "In a reality where even legitimate educational activities by teachers are indiscriminately targeted by child abuse reports, portraying teachers as perpetrators of grooming crimes against students only further erodes trust in the educational field."
Meanwhile, "The Elementary School Student I Love" is based on a webtoon and tells the story of an elementary school teacher who, after breaking up with her partner, discovers that a character she met in an online game is actually her own student.
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