Teachers in South Korea have staged a mass walkout in protest at widespread harassment by overbearing parents and unruly students, which has led to some staff taking their own lives.
The problem of bullying and violence among students in the country has been well-documented. But teachers are now demanding better protection for themselves amid growing outrage about teaching staff being mistreated, including being accused of child abuse for disciplining students.
An elementary school teacher named Koh told the Guardian: “Teacher rights are just as important as student rights. We too are being bullied by parents and students, and this must stop.”
An estimated 15,000 people dressed in black attended a rally on Monday outside the national assembly in the capital, Seoul. Some in the audience shed tears as speeches were read aloud on stage. Other rallies were held across the country.
Many teachers took leave to attend the protests on Monday and some schools were reportedly temporarily closed, despite authorities declaring their actions illegal and threatening legal consequences.
Kim who wanted to be identified only by her surname, said she came to the Seoul rally to show support. She said: “Teachers are instrumental in shaping the future of our children. Schools are supposed to be safe, and not places where teachers are abused.”
The teachers’ movement was sparked by the death of a 23-year-old elementary schoolteacher in July. She was found dead at her school in Seoul in an apparent suicide after reportedly expressing anxiety over complaints from abusive parents.
Teachers nationwide have since been holding vigils and demonstrations every weekend to mourn her death and demand improved rights, leading up to a rally at the weekend in Seoul where as many as 200,000 teachers gathered.
Monday marked the 49th day since the teacher’s death, an important day in funeral rites according to many Buddhist traditions. Reports in recent days of several other apparent teacher suicides have further fuelled outrage over the mistreatment of teachers.
The group leading the protests, Everyone Together As One, said: “We will protect them (the teachers) and make changes so that not one more teacher chooses to take their life.”
As of June, 100 schoolteachers had died by suicide in South Korea since 2018 – 57 of them taught at elementary schools, according to government data.
The education ministry has vowed to strengthen educational authority and is pushing for legislation to ensure “legitimate educational activities are distinguished from child abuse crimes”.
On Sunday, the ministry blamed previous governments for “overemphasising” students’ human rights over teacher rights, which it said resulted in “the number of indiscriminate child abuse reports to increase”.
President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials to “deeply bear in mind” the teachers’ protests and to do their utmost to protect their rights.
South Korea has the highest rate of suicide among developed countries, with suicide being the main cause of death among those aged 10 to 39.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
