The Most Desired 'Teacher's Day Message' by Teachers is? ..."Seonsaengnim, I Respect You"

On May 14 last year, a day before Teachers' Day, foreign students at Paichai University Appenzeller Hall in Daejeon are delivering thank-you messages to their Korean language teacher. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] On the 15th, which marks 'Teacher's Day,' attention is focused on the gratitude phrases to be used on this day.

According to an online survey conducted last May by the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations targeting 3,271 teachers from nationwide kindergartens, elementary, middle, high schools, and universities, 28.2% of teachers chose "I respect you, teacher" as the phrase they most want to hear on Teacher's Day.

Following that were "I want to be like you, teacher" (26.8%), "I am happy because you are here, teacher" (26.8%), and "I love you, teacher" (12.3%).

Meanwhile, Teacher's Day is a legally designated commemorative day established to foster a social atmosphere of respect for teachers' authority and honor for teachers.

It is known that this day began in 1963 when the Youth Red Cross Central Student Council designated May 26th as Teacher's Day annually and held appreciation events. Two years later, in 1965, Teacher's Day was changed to May 15th, the birthday of King Sejong the Great, and events were held under the auspices of schools and teacher organizations at all levels.

In 1973, due to the government's policy of administrative reform, appreciation events were regulated, and Teacher's Day was temporarily abolished. However, in 1982, it was re-established as a commemorative day to promote a culture of respect for teachers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.