Superintendent Lim Tae-hee Files 13 Complaints and Investigation Requests... Strict Response to Malicious Interference with Educational Activities

13 Criminal Complaints and Investigation Requests Filed for Education Activity Violations Since Inauguration
Creating a Safe Teaching Environment by Strictly Addressing Education Activity Violations

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Tae-hee) announced on the 23rd that it will actively protect teachers by conducting ‘Criminal Complaints by the Superintendent for Malicious Infringement of Educational Activities.’

Im Tae-hee, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Teacher Rights Protection Committee has reviewed 24 cases requesting criminal complaints since 2021, and among them, after Superintendent Lim Tae-hee’s inauguration, a total of 13 cases were reported and referred for investigation: ▲2 cases in 2022 ▲3 cases in 2023 ▲8 cases in 2024.

By school level, there were 8 cases in elementary schools, 3 in middle schools, and 2 in high schools. The accused were 11 parents and 2 students. The types of complaints included 5 cases of obstruction of official duties, 3 cases of threats, 2 cases of sexual violence crimes, 1 case of defamation, and 2 other cases.

The Office of Education is strictly responding to malicious educational activities based on Article 20, Paragraph 4 of the ‘Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers’ Status and Protection of Educational Activities’ (hereinafter referred to as the Teacher Status Act), which states, ‘If the competent authority determines that the infringement of educational activities corresponds to criminal punishment provisions under relevant laws, it may file a complaint with the competent investigative agency.’

Accordingly, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Teacher Rights Protection Committee decides whether to file criminal complaints through deliberation when requested by teachers recognized as victims of infringement of educational activities.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Teacher Rights Protection Committee is a statutory committee established based on the Teacher Status Act, responsible for ▲establishing implementation plans for the protection of teachers’ educational activities ▲mediating disputes not resolved by regional teacher rights protection committees ▲reviewing requests for criminal complaints related to infringement of educational activities by teachers.

Recently, the court sentenced a parent who threw a mobile phone at a teacher during class to one year in prison with a three-year probation, considering the serious violation of teacher rights as obstruction of official duties.

Additionally, the prosecution requested a four-month prison sentence for a parent who pushed a teacher and caused injury while visiting the school to discuss their child’s issues, charging them with obstructing the teacher’s duties.

This is the result of the Office of Education guiding the educational community on the principle of autonomy and balance, where rights come with responsibilities, and efforts to create a happy and safe school where teachers are respected and students are valued.

The Office of Education plans to firmly operate the Comprehensive Measures Task Force for the Protection of Educational Activities, run the SOS! Gyeonggi Education Legal Support Group, support the recovery of teachers affected by infringement of educational activities, and strengthen preventive education against such infringements, thereby establishing an institutional system for protecting educational activities and continuously striving to foster a culture of mutual respect.

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