Assemblyman Seodongyong Reports Increase in Teachers Under Investigation for Sexual Crimes, 54 Cases as of July This Year

Immediate Suspension Not Enforced in Some Education Offices During Sexual Crime Investigations

Digital Sexual Crimes Worsen, but Indecent Acts Using Communication Media Excluded from Suspension

Rep. Seo Urges Active Suspension Measures to Prevent Additional Sexual Crime Victims

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] As of July this year, the number of elementary and secondary school teachers nationwide who have been investigated by investigative agencies for sexual crimes has exceeded half of the figures from 2020 and 2021, when in-person classes were suspended due to COVID-19 and social distancing measures were implemented.

According to Seo Dong-yong, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye (Eul)), the total number of teachers notified by investigative agencies as being under investigation for sexual crimes as of July this year was 54.

This figure surpasses half of the 62 teachers in 2020 and 91 teachers in 2021, years marked by repeated disruptions to normal academic operations and social distancing due to COVID-19.

Within just one semester after returning to normal academic operations, investigations into teachers for sexual crimes have increased to pre-COVID-19 levels.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak, 93 teachers were notified of investigations for sexual crimes.

By education office, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education had the highest number, with 14 teachers notified of sexual crime investigations by investigative agencies.

Next were the Incheon Office of Education and the Jeonnam Office of Education, with 11 and 7 teachers respectively notified of sexual crime investigations.

There were cases where teachers notified of sexual crime investigations by investigative agencies were not immediately suspended from their positions.

Due to concerns that teachers under investigation for sexual crimes continuing to work could cause additional harm to students given the nature of their duties, the National Assembly established Article 44-2 in the 「Education Officials Act」 on September 24, 2021, allowing for immediate suspension from position. From March this year, immediate suspension has been possible when under investigation for sexual violence crimes under Article 2 of the 「Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes」, prohibited acts under Article 4 of the 「Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic」, sexual crimes against children and adolescents under Article 2(2) of the 「Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse」, and prohibited acts under Article 17 of the 「Child Welfare Act」.

However, despite the intent of this legal amendment, some education offices did not suspend certain teachers.

By education office, the Incheon Office of Education suspended 6 out of 11 teachers notified of sexual crime investigations, leaving 5 not suspended, and the Chungnam Office of Education did not suspend 3 out of 5 teachers.

Additionally, Seoul and Ulsan each did not suspend 2 teachers, and Gyeonggi did not suspend 1 teacher.

Upon reviewing cases where suspension was not enforced, in Incheon most notifications were for forced molestation, but except for cases where the amended law was not applied, the reasons were unclear.

In Chungnam, there were also cases of forced molestation notifications where suspension was not enforced.

The issue is that among the 13 cases where suspension was not enforced, 4 involved investigations for obscene acts using communication media under Article 13 of the 「Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes」.

This is believed to be because ‘obscene acts using communication media’ are not included as immediate suspension targets under the law.

Cases from Ulsan, Gyeonggi, and Chungnam Offices of Education fall under this category.

Given the increasing severity of digital sexual crimes, such as the Nth Room case, there are calls to consider immediate suspension when notified of investigations for such crimes.

Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong stated, “Although the law was amended to allow immediate suspension of teachers under investigation for sexual crimes to prevent additional harm, it has been confirmed that some cases of non-suspension exist. Education offices should actively consider applying the law, and legislative gaps should be promptly addressed.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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