"Recognize the Line-of-Duty Death of Seoicho Teacher," Teachers in Black Hold Rally in Downtown Seoul

Around 10,000 Gathered Four Days Before Line-of-Duty Death Review
Criticism of Neulbom School Expansion... "Concerns Over Work Overload"

On the weekend of the 17th, teachers from across the country gathered in downtown Seoul to urge the official recognition of the death of a Seoi Elementary School teacher as a work-related fatality.

That afternoon, 'All National Teachers' held a rally near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station on Line 2 in Jung-gu, Seoul, titled 'Demand for Recognition of Seoi Elementary School Teacher's Work-Related Death and Condemnation of the Neulbom Policy.' The teachers wore black clothing, and the organizers estimated that around 10,000 people attended.

On the afternoon of the 17th, a rally urging the recognition of the death in the line of duty of a teacher from Seoi Elementary School was held near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They called for the recognition of the Seoi Elementary School teacher's death as work-related at the Public Officials Disaster Compensation Deliberation Committee meeting held by the Ministry of Personnel Management on the 21st, four days later.

Park Duyong, the deceased teacher’s cousin, also spoke at the rally, saying, "Recognition of the work-related death cannot fully heal the family's pain," but added, "We hope for an appropriate outcome to restore at least the honor and to pray for the deceased’s soul," expressing support for the recognition.

The deceased teacher’s uncle from an elementary school in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, who died by suicide last August, also attended the rally. He stated, "My nephew died while striving to properly guide students," and added, "It is clear that my nephew died in the course of official duties, so this should rightfully be recognized as a work-related death."

The teachers chanted slogans such as "Investigate teacher deaths and recognize work-related fatalities" and "Promptly recognize Seoi Elementary School teacher’s work-related death," while also criticizing the government’s Neulbom School expansion policy. This policy allows elementary students to participate in various programs and receive care at school until evening, and from the second semester of this year, it will be expanded nationwide with plans to create dedicated teams to reduce teachers’ workload. However, teachers are concerned about increased workload due to insufficient preparation.

On the afternoon of the 17th, a rally urging the recognition of the death in the line of duty of a teacher from Seoi Elementary School was held near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

A teacher participating in the rally said, "The government did not consider or research the emotional development of children when designing the care policy," and criticized, "The government sacrificed our children’s lives for a superficial policy aimed at the general election."

He continued, "The Ministry of Education just throws a single implementation plan document at teachers and expects them to complete the work within two weeks," adding, "The government should establish a care policy that separates public education and public childcare systems."

Previously, rallies organized by All National Teachers were held 11 times in downtown Seoul from July to October last year. This 12th rally was the first of this year and took place four months after the last rally.

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