Mixed reactions online to disclosed retirement allowance
Public servant compensation system reexamined after story goes viral
A story about the retirement allowance of a principal who retired after working as an elementary school teacher for about 40 years is drawing attention online and sparking debate.
On the 7th, a post titled "Retirement allowance for 39 years and 8 months as an elementary school teacher" was uploaded to an online community. The author, identified as Mr. A, wrote that his older sister, who reached mandatory retirement as a principal in August last year after working for about 39 years and 8 months, received approximately 100 million won and 40,000 won (about 100,040,000 won) as a retirement allowance, and is currently receiving a pension of about 3.25 million won per month.
Mr. A wrote, "I never imagined that after working for more than 39 years, the retirement allowance would be only this much," adding, "It is true that the pension is not a small amount, but I thought the retirement allowance would also be at a certain level." He then drew attention by adding the remark, "Some people work for 6 years and receive 5 billion won." This comment has prompted interpretations that he was taking aim at the so-called "5 billion won severance pay" case involving the son of former Assemblyman Kwak Sangdo, which recently stirred controversy.
As the post spread, online reactions were sharply divided. Some commented, "It is disheartening that nearly 40 years of dedication to the educational field amounts to just 100 million won," and "The social treatment of teachers is far too poor." Others, however, argued that "With a monthly civil service pension of 3.25 million won, a stable old age is possible," and that "For public servants, the pension is more important than the retirement allowance," calling the criticism excessive.
Explanations about the public servant retirement benefit system also followed. One commenter pointed out, "Public servants do not have what is commonly called 'retirement pay'; the correct term is 'retirement allowance,'" adding, "It is difficult to compare it on the same basis as the private sector."
As the controversy grew, Mr. A posted an additional message sharing more about his sister's life. He explained that his sister grew up in a poor family, entered a regional college of education, devoted herself to teaching, and, despite the family's financial crises, guarded the front lines of elementary education for about 40 years before finally retiring as a principal. He went on to say, "I feel I fell short because I wrote a post that focused on money rather than on my sister's glorious years," and explained, "In truth, I wrote it because I am so proud of her." He concluded by adding, "You have worked so hard all this time, and I hope that in your second life you walk only on a path full of flowers."
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