Legislation to Protect Teachers' Rights Left Unattended in the National Assembly... All 8 Proposed Bills Remain 'Pending'

Bill to Protect Teachers' Rights Delayed in Standing Committee
Priority Likely to Rise After 'Seoi Elementary Incident'
Only 1 of 8 Proposed Bills Reviewed

Interest in protecting teachers' rights is increasing following the incident in which a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School took their own life. However, according to the National Assembly Legislative Information System on the 26th, eight bills aimed at protecting teachers have already been proposed in the National Assembly, but none have even reached the standing committee and remain pending. As a result, there are criticisms that the National Assembly is lukewarm in preparing measures to protect teachers' rights through the revision of related bills.

On the 21st, a memorial altar was set up at the Gangnam Seocho Office of Education in Seoul for homeroom teacher A from Seoi Elementary School, who died by suicide. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the "Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers' Status and Protection of Educational Activities (Teacher Status Act)," five different amendment bills have currently been proposed.

In July 2021, Representative Kang Deuk-gu of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment bill that transfers the Teacher Rights Protection Committee to the jurisdiction of regional offices and includes provisions to provide sufficient protective measures for affected teachers. In August last year, Representative Lee Tae-gyu of the People Power Party proposed an amendment bill requiring that if a student infringes on a teacher's educational activities, the incident must be recorded in the student's school life record.

In September last year, Representative Seo Jeong-sook of the People Power Party proposed an amendment bill allowing school principals to take measures such as suspension of attendance against students who infringe on educational activities. In March this year, Representative Cho Kyung-tae of the People Power Party proposed an amendment bill to separately draft and manage students' educational activity infringement acts by presidential decree.

Three bills have been proposed to prevent false reports of "child abuse." In June, Representative Kang proposed an amendment to the Teacher Status Act allowing school principals to submit opinions to investigative agencies if a teacher's student guidance is reported as child abuse. Two related bills amending the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act" were proposed by Representatives Lee and Kang. A related amendment to the "Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes" was also proposed by Representative Lee to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Among these, the only amendment bill to the Teacher Status Act proposed by Representative Lee was submitted to the Education Committee in November last year and discussed, but the other bills have not even been reviewed. The amendment bill to the Teacher Status Act proposed by Representative Kang, two bills amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and one child abuse law bill have yet to be submitted. An Education Committee official explained, "There were many bills to be discussed in the Education Committee, so there was not enough time for review," adding, "Since there is already a consensus between the ruling and opposition parties on the amendment to the Teacher Status Act, it was agreed to address it as the next topic."

Among the amendment bills, the "proposal to record educational activity infringement acts in the school life record" is expected to show differences of opinion between the government and ruling party and the opposition. Deputy Minister of Education Jang Sang-yoon appeared before the Education Committee on November 29 last year and said, "Basically, it is necessary to record such incidents in the school life record," but added, "However, the scope of serious educational activity infringement acts should be narrowly defined and managed carefully." Representative Lee said, "Our society must agree that if (a student) causes harm or disadvantage to others, they will also face disadvantages." In response, Representative Kang Min-jung of the Democratic Party countered, "Regarding the recording of school violence in the school life record, there was already social discussion about 10 years ago, pointing out that it was inhumane and anti-educational."

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