The Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced on July 3 that it has appointed 30 external lawyers to form the "Gyogwon Onhim Legal Support Team" in order to strengthen legal support for teachers who have suffered violations of educational activities or who have been falsely reported for child abuse.
This newly formed legal team is an expansion and reorganization of the previous legal support group. Multiple lawyers have been assigned to each region, taking into account the unique characteristics and size of the 22 cities and counties within North Gyeongsang Province. This system ensures that when an incident occurs, teachers can receive prompt and accessible legal support.
Teachers who have experienced violations of their educational rights can first consult with an assigned lawyer through the "Educational Activity Protection Center." If needed, they can then receive more in-depth legal support from the appointed lawyers. The "Gyogwon Onhim Legal Support Team" not only provides consultations but also offers practical assistance, such as accompanying teachers to investigative agencies and preparing statements of opinion.
In addition, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education has established a dual cooperation system between internal and external lawyers to provide more robust and secure support. All consultations are strictly confidential and are available by phone or in person.
The office also responds firmly to malicious complaints that threaten teachers. Each school has formed a "Complaint Response Team," and each education support office operates an "Integrated Complaint Team" to enhance the school's ability to respond. The principal of each school serves as the chief officer for complaint handling. Routine complaints are handled by designated staff, while unusual or complex complaints are managed by the Complaint Response Team with an administrator present. Complaints that are difficult to resolve at the school level are transferred to the Integrated Complaint Team at the education support office for processing.
Teachers' phone numbers are, in principle, kept confidential, and the "Teacher Safe Number Service" is used to prevent the exposure of personal information. Additionally, schools have established infrastructure such as recorded telephones, call connection messages, and dedicated complaint consultation rooms (equipped with emergency bells) to protect teachers from repetitive and malicious complaints.
Psychological support is also available for teachers experiencing psychological difficulties due to their educational activities. The "Gyogwon Protection Direct Consultation" guide provides access to consultations with supervisors and professional counselors, and accessibility has been improved by providing phone numbers and QR codes.
Lim Jong-sik, Superintendent of the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, emphasized, "If a teacher's legitimate educational activities are violated, we will ensure their protection through the legal support team," and added, "We will do our utmost to assist teachers so they do not have to face anxiety alone and to create a safe educational environment."
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