SEOUL — An alarming surge in teacher authority infringements has forced South Korean schools to implement the severest disciplinary actions, with 178 students receiving mandated transfers or expulsions in the first half of this year alone. Data reveals that physical violence and sexual misconduct against educators are becoming increasingly prevalent, sparking urgent calls for enhanced teacher protection.

Record Discipline Follows Major Increase in Violations 

According to figures presented by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jin Sun-mi to the National Assembly's Education Committee, a total of 2,189 Teacher Rights Protection Committee (TRPC) meetings were convened in the first semester. The TRPC, established under the law on the Status of Teachers, deliberates on infringements of teaching activities and determines disciplinary measures based on the severity, intentionality, and duration of the student's actions.

The most serious outcomes from these deliberations were 156 mandatory transfers and 22 expulsions—the total of 178 marking a significant enforcement of disciplinary action. Other common measures included 556 suspensions from school attendance, 406 community service mandates, and 384 social service hours.

The increase in TRPC cases follows a broader trend of escalating incidents. The number of annual TRPC sessions surged from a low of 1,197 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to 5,050 in 2023 and 4,234 in 2024. This heightened frequency is largely attributed to increased sensitivity and reporting following the tragic death of a Seoul elementary school teacher in 2023.

Escalation in Physical and Sexual Crimes 

Recent cases highlight the severity of the attacks educators are facing. In August, a middle school teacher in Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, suffered a lumbar fracture requiring a 12-week recovery period after a third-grade student shoved her during classroom guidance. In another disturbing trend, reports of sexual harassment against teachers have surged by 77% between 2018 and 2022, according to separate government data. Last year, 518 cases of physical assault and 324 cases of sexual degradation or harassment were submitted to the TRPC.

Furthermore, new forms of digital crime are emerging, including students illegally filming teachers or creating deepfake videos using teachers' images. "As cases amounting to criminal acts like assault and sexual harassment increase, immediate measures to protect our educators are vital," stated an official from the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA).

The most common type of offense remains intentional disruption of educational activities, such as refusing legitimate guidance, which accounted for 1,240 cases last year. This was followed by defamation and insult (1,040 cases).

Call for Overhaul of Separation Protocol 

A key operational challenge facing educators is the current separation protocol for teachers and offending students. While the law mandates immediate separation upon a reported infringement, the recommended duration is only a maximum of seven days, according to Ministry of Education guidelines. However, it typically takes up to a month for the TRPC to render a final decision.

This gap forces many victimized teachers to use their personal leave to avoid encountering their assailants, effectively penalizing the victim. Experts, including former Gwangju National University of Education President Park Nam-ki, are urging for an overhaul of the system to ensure it functions effectively in schools, providing real-time protection for teachers and maintaining a safe learning environment for all students.