"Teachers, Why Make Money Filming Others' Faces?"... Petition to Ban 'School Vlog' at Cheong

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim So-young] Recently, as teachers' vlogging activities have become more active, a petition has emerged calling for restrictions on 'in-school teacher vlogs' due to concerns over student personal information leakage.

A vlog is a combination of video and blog, referring to video content that captures one's daily life.

On the 19th, a petition titled "Please ban teachers from filming school vlogs" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner stated, "The number of teachers filming vlogs at school is increasing rapidly," adding, "If you just search 'teacher vlog' on YouTube, you can see many teachers filming vlogs during class time."

He pointed out, "However, if you watch the videos carefully, many do not alter the children's voices or apply mosaics. Some even call out the child's real name."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

He continued, "The internet is a dangerous place filled with all kinds of malicious comments, and exposing children there is very risky. I am anxious that criminals who misuse personal information might learn the child's identity."

He also said, "They freely add curse words in subtitles. Where is the dignity of being a teacher?" and questioned, "More importantly, is this behavior respectable as an educator in front of children?"

He added, "Of course, consent is obtained from children and parents, but as long as there are rolling admissions, teachers remain the authority figures in the classroom," and "There are children who must remain silent for fear of negative impacts on their school records. Can the children's opinions be fully reflected? I don't think so."

Furthermore, he raised the possibility of discrimination among students based on vlog participation, saying, "There will be children who are active and provide material, and those who are introverted and avoid filming. Which side do you think teachers will favor?"

The petitioner argued, "Teachers have their primary job as 'teachers.' No one can perfectly handle their main job while doing a side job," and "Allowing side jobs as YouTubers diverts attention from their main duties."

He explained the reason for the petition, saying, "Not only for the safety of children but also so that teachers can spend time thinking about which children are marginalized and who needs help instead of worrying about vlog subtitle content, I request restrictions on 'teacher vlogs.'"

In response, netizens expressed anger with comments such as "Teachers should focus on teaching children. Isn't this neglect of duty?", "It's a nuisance. Why make money by filming others' faces?", and "If students filmed teachers and posted it, there would be an uproar about infringement of teachers' rights."

Generally, many opinions lean towards limiting 'in-school vlogs' rather than opposing teacher vlogs themselves, saying things like "YouTube itself is not the problem. Please refrain from filming at school," and "It would be good if both could be done well, but it's not easy. I hope teachers focus only on classes."

In principle, teachers are prohibited from holding side jobs. However, according to the 'Guidelines for Teachers' YouTube Activities' prepared by the Ministry of Education in 2019, operating a YouTube channel is allowed.

The guidelines state that the Ministry of Education's basic policy is to encourage public-interest educational YouTube activities, and YouTube activities related to hobbies, leisure, and self-development in private life are not subject to regulation.

However, if the channel reaches the minimum requirements for advertising revenue, such as 1,000 subscribers, permission from the school principal for concurrent positions must be obtained, and acts that damage the dignity of teachers are prohibited.

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