Middle School Student Suspended for Pushing Female Teacher and Causing Serious Injury at Changwon School

by Lee Seryeong

Published 17 Sep.2025 14:32(KST)

Gyeongnam Office of Education. Photo by Lee Seryeong

In August, a student at a middle school in Changwon, Gyeongnam, pushed a female teacher who was providing guidance on school life, causing her to fall and suffer a serious injury that requires 12 weeks of recovery. The student has been given a "suspension from attendance" as a disciplinary measure.

According to the Gyeongnam Office of Education on September 17, the Changwon Office of Education, which handled the case, held a Teacher Rights Protection Committee meeting on September 10 and decided to impose a 10-day suspension from attendance and require 10 hours of psychological counseling for the student in question.

Disciplinary actions for students who infringe upon educational activities include: 1) school service, 2) community service, 3) completion of special education or psychological counseling, 4) suspension from attendance, 5) change of class, 6) transfer to another school, and 7) expulsion.

The committee also considered measures such as a class change, but ultimately decided on the current actions, taking into account the strong likelihood that the incident was accidental in nature.

It has also been reported that the victimized teacher expressed a "wish not to pursue punishment" against the student.

The provincial office of education is considering an "environmental transfer," which would allow the perpetrating student and their guardian to voluntarily transfer to another school.

For the injured teacher, the office plans to take steps necessary for psychological and physical recovery, as well as for the restoration of teaching authority, in accordance with the Act on the Status and Rights of Teachers.

Previously, at around 12:50 p.m. on August 19, teacher A, a homeroom teacher for first-year students at a middle school in Changwon, was assaulted while trying to provide guidance to third-year student B, who had entered the classroom during lunch and was causing a disturbance.

When teacher A asked B, "Why is a third-year student in a first-year classroom?" B engaged in a physical altercation and pushed A, causing the teacher to fall and suffer a severe injury to the lower back and other areas, resulting in a 12-week recovery period.