Repeated Threatening Behavior in the Past
Even With 12 Weeks of Recovery Needed, "The Most Severe Penalty Is a Transfer"
An incident occurred at a middle school in South Gyeongsang Province where a male third-year student pushed a female teacher in her 50s, causing her serious injuries.
According to the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education, the incident took place at around 12:50 p.m. on August 19, in the hallway in front of a first-year classroom at a local middle school. Student A, a third-year student, was confronted by homeroom teacher B for being in the area, as B asked, "Why is a third-year student in a first-year classroom?" In a fit of anger, A pushed teacher B. As a result of the impact, the teacher fell to the floor and suffered a spinal injury, receiving a medical diagnosis requiring 12 weeks of recovery.
After the incident, teacher B was granted special leave and began treatment, which will later be converted to official sick leave. Students who witnessed the incident are currently receiving psychological counseling, and the school is considering connecting them with specialized agencies if necessary.
Student A is reported to be physically larger than his peers and had previously exhibited threatening behavior at school. The school had convened several crisis management committee meetings in response to his repeated problematic actions. Following this incident, A has been separated from the school and sent home, and his future attendance will be determined after consultation with his guardians.
The case has been officially submitted to the Office of Education's Teacher Rights Protection Committee, and disciplinary action will be decided through deliberation. As expulsion is legally not permitted for middle school students, the most severe penalty is a transfer to another school.
A representative from the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education stated, "We will support the teacher's swift recovery while also taking measures to ensure the student's emotional stability and prevent recurrence." The official added, "We will actively respond to create an educational environment where teachers' rights are respected."
Teachers: "Serious Violation of Teacher Rights"... 6 Out of 10 Considering Leaving the Profession
This is not the first case of violence against teachers. In May, at a school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, a middle school student, after being corrected during a physical education class, struck a teacher in his 50s with a baseball bat, resulting in broken ribs. In April, at a high school in Yangcheon District, Seoul, a student caused controversy by hitting a female teacher in the face.
Due to these repeated violations of teacher rights, teachers' job satisfaction has hit rock bottom. According to a survey conducted by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union between April and May of this year, targeting 8,254 teachers from kindergartens to high schools nationwide, only 32.7% responded that they were satisfied with their teaching careers.
In particular, 64.9% of respondents felt that teachers are not respected in society, and a staggering 56.7% reported experiencing violations of teacher rights within the past year. Perpetrators included not only students but also parents, and 23.3% of teachers received psychiatric counseling or treatment as a result. The survey also found that 6 out of 10 teachers had considered changing jobs or resigning.
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