'Day of Public Education Halt'... Rising Tension in the Education Sector

'Day of Public Education Halt' Reality Bleak After Seoi Elementary
Consecutive Teacher Deaths, Teachers Stepping Forward Despite Disciplinary Risks

On the 4th, the 49th day memorial for the deceased teacher of Seoul Seoi Elementary School, teachers nationwide designated the day as a 'Day to Stop Public Education' and held a memorial gathering in front of the National Assembly. Although the Ministry of Education requested restraint from collective action, the atmosphere of mourning is spreading as teachers' deaths have continued even after the death of the Seoi Elementary School teacher.

On the 4th, teachers across the country are participating in the event on a large scale through leave of absence, sick leave, and discretionary holidays. Previously, among the 6,286 elementary schools nationwide, 30 schools including Seoi Elementary designated the day as a discretionary holiday.

On the 49th day memorial of a teacher who passed away at an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul, a classroom at an elementary school in Sejong City was empty on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

The education authorities have warned of strict measures against collective teacher actions and urged restraint. The Ministry of Education stated that principals who forcibly implement temporary closures or teachers who use leave or sick leave without special reasons could face disciplinary actions up to dismissal or removal and may be subject to criminal charges.

On the 3rd, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, also appealed through a 'Plea for the Restoration of Teachers' Authority and Normalization of Educational Sites,' asking, "Teachers, please stay by the students' side," and once again requested restraint from collective action.

However, the anger among teachers is intensifying as incidents of teachers who had expressed difficulties with school work and parental complaints taking their own lives have continued even after the death of the Seoi Elementary School teacher.

On the 31st of last month, elementary school teachers in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, and Gunsan, Jeonbuk, made extreme choices, and on the 3rd, a teacher in his 60s at a high school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was found dead on a hiking trail.

A banner commemorating the 49th day memorial of a teacher who passed away at an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul, was installed at an elementary school in Sejong City on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

Teachers are expressing their intention to participate despite facing disciplinary actions. A currently active elementary school teacher, A, who expressed willingness to join the 'Day to Stop Public Education,' said in an MBC radio interview on the 4th, "At our school, the youngest teacher sent a letter titled 'To the Respected Senior,' saying, 'I am also very afraid of disciplinary action. But the unchanging educational environment is scarier, and a school where a teacher dies quietly in the classroom and everything goes on smoothly is much more terrifying and dreadful.' After reading this, some who hesitated and struggled apologized and changed their minds; this is the atmosphere."

Jung Yong-ju, principal of Seoul Cheonwang Elementary School, who designated the day as a discretionary holiday, explained on CBS radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 4th that it was inevitable to designate the discretionary holiday as the head of an institution with authority to guide and supervise teachers and educate students.

Principal Jung said, "When we did not designate a discretionary holiday, we could not let only the children attend school while not knowing how many teachers would come to school, leaving a distorted disruption unattended. So, we decided on a temporary closure, and it was important to protect the students' safe right to learn until today. I came to work early this morning to conduct an emergency care check and final inspection of care and after-school programs."

He added, "Protecting teachers is the duty of the head of the institution. Although such incidents should not be repeated, even if they are, my judgment and decision would be the same. Protecting teachers and the right to learn is my most important duty as the head of the institution."

A member of the September 4th memorial rally organizing team emphasized on SBS radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that "What we fear is not the immediate disciplinary actions but the death of another teacher we will face."

The organizing team member said, "What we ultimately want to assert is to guarantee an environment where teachers can teach and create an environment where students can learn and grow."

The organizing team member added, "Teachers have continuously submitted existing assemblies, reports, various statements, opinions, petitions, and complaints, expressing their demands, but there has been no attention to these voices from the field. Instead, there is an attitude to pressure teachers. We hope that more thought will be given to what we need to do for education."

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