Half of Teachers Under Investigation for Sexual Offenses Remain at School... Maintain Positions

It has been found that about half of teachers under investigation for sexual offenses are still retaining their teaching positions.

According to data received by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Youngho, chairman of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, from the Ministry of Education on October 16, out of 655 school staff members nationwide who have been investigated for sexual offenses from 2021 to August this year, 289 individuals (44%) have not been suspended from their positions. Looking only at this year, more than half (57%, 43 out of 76) have continued to hold their positions.

The number of teachers investigated for sexual offenses has exceeded 100 each year: 129 in 2021, 153 in 2022, 160 in 2023, and 137 in 2024.

However, the proportion of teachers who have been suspended from their positions has been declining each year. It dropped from 73% in 2021 to 54% in both 2022 and 2023, 50% in 2024, and fell further to 43% this year.

By region, Busan recorded the lowest average suspension rate for teachers accused of sexual offenses over the past five years at 21%. This was followed by North Jeolla (27%), Incheon (32%), and Ulsan (33%).

According to Article 44-2 of the Education Officials Act, teachers who are being investigated or questioned by investigative agencies for sexual offenses may be suspended from their positions.

However, this is limited to cases where “the degree of misconduct is serious and it is significantly difficult to expect normal work performance,” so there are instances where education offices or school foundations choose not to suspend the staff member. Nevertheless, criticism has arisen that, regardless of the severity of the case, it is inappropriate to allow teachers accused of sexual offenses to continue interacting with underage students.

Chairman Kim Youngho stated, “Suspending teachers accused of sexual offenses is not a punishment, but a preventive measure,” adding, “From the early stages of the investigation, measures must be taken to protect victims and prevent secondary harm by separating the accused from students.”