Cho Hee-yeon "Will Take Measures... Will Approach with a Resolute Attitude"

Attended Seoul Metropolitan Council Education Committee Briefing
Promised Tasks Including Support for Education Activity Disruption Victims

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated that he feels responsible for the incident in which an elementary school teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School passed away, and announced that he will pursue three tasks including support for victims of educational activity infringement and the establishment of educational activity guidelines.

On the 27th at 10 a.m., Superintendent Cho attended an emergency issue briefing of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Education Committee, mentioning the death of the Seoi Elementary School teacher and the case of a public elementary school teacher in Yangcheon-gu being assaulted by a 6th-grade student, saying, "I believe I am the one who should feel a deep sense of responsibility."

Regarding the deceased teacher at Seoi Elementary, he said, "I offer my condolences to the bereaved family and bow my head in apology to all teachers who are grieving and shedding tears together," adding, "We are currently discussing with the bereaved family and related departments to have this recognized as a work-related injury so that the teacher’s honor can be restored."

Superintendent Cho stated, "I take the reality that teachers are not being protected very seriously and will pursue three tasks to ensure proper protection of educational activities and the authority of student guidance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The three tasks include ▲ full support for victims of educational activity infringement ▲ establishment of guidelines for proper educational activities and conducting a survey on the status of relationships within the educational community along with seeking solutions ▲ expansion of support for teachers who suffer infringements of their rights through the Teacher Safety Mutual Aid Service.

Superintendent Cho urged the National Assembly, saying, "Please promptly proceed with amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention Act and the Teacher Status Improvement Act to correct excessive legislation that makes it impossible to carry out educational activities," and emphasized, "The education office will also prepare active measures such as legal support for teachers who become involved in various lawsuits."

He added, "To create an environment where all teachers can fully demonstrate their abilities, I will approach this with a self-sacrificing attitude and a heavy sense of responsibility," and requested, "I ask the lawmakers to also gather wisdom to protect educational activities."

On this day, it was reported that the People Power Party side in the Education Committee claimed that the Student Human Rights Ordinance has negatively affected teacher authority and argued that improvements are necessary.

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