'Legitimate Teacher Discipline, Child Abuse Non-Punishment' Bill Passes Legislation and Judiciary Committee

On the 7th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to Process the Special Act on Child Abuse Crimes

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed an amendment to the "Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes" on the 7th, which prevents the punishment of teachers for child abuse when conducting legitimate life guidance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The amendment primarily stipulates that legitimate educational activities and student life guidance by teachers shall not be regarded as child abuse. It also includes a provision that when a teacher is reported for a child abuse crime, the police or prosecution investigating the case must mandatorily consider the opinion of the relevant superintendent of education.

The amendment is one of the bills to protect teachers' authority, sparked by the "Seoi Elementary School Teacher Death Incident." This year, as teachers' extreme choices have continued, voices calling for the establishment of systems to protect teachers' authority have surged.

The amendment, which passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on this day, is expected to be processed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 8th.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee is responsible for systematic and textual review of bills processed by each standing committee of the National Assembly. However, due to repeated disruptions caused by clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the impeachment of Lee Dong-gwan, the resigned Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, the processing of bills related to people's livelihood has been delayed. Since this year's National Assembly audit, no bills from other committees have been processed.

On this day, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee reviewed and approved about 185 bills, including the amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Corporate Restructuring (Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act)" which extends the corporate workout system that helps companies on the verge of bankruptcy to recover quickly until 2026 for three years.

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