Despite a recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to replace disciplinary action with guidance for student dress and hairstyle violations, a high school has only partially accepted the recommendation.
According to the NHRCK on Wednesday, the school principal received a recommendation in September last year to stop disciplining students for dress and hairstyle violations and instead develop guidance measures. However, the school was found to still be imposing disciplinary action based on cumulative violations.
The case began when the public autonomous high school banned students from wearing slippers during arrival and departure and imposed disciplinary action on violators. A student filed a complaint with the NHRCK, calling the measure excessive.
An investigation found the school operated a system in which students caught violating the dress code a certain number of times were referred to the Student Life Education Committee for disciplinary action. The school explained, "The need for school uniform guidance arose to clearly distinguish students from outsiders and ensure student safety," adding, "There is a significant risk of safety accidents when late students rush in wearing slippers."
The NHRCK pointed out that punishing dress code violations under the same standards as serious offenses such as forging official documents or possessing weapons is unfair. It also found that restricting slippers could infringe on students' rights to express individuality and self-determination, and that there was insufficient rational basis for a blanket ban.
The NHRCK recommended that the school develop guidance measures rather than disciplinary action for dress and hairstyle violations, and improve related regulations through a process of gathering student opinions. The school responded that it had partially revised existing rules to establish graduated measures based on the number of violations. However, it was revealed that the school ultimately maintained disciplinary procedures, including referral to the Student Life Education Committee.
The NHRCK determined that the school had only partially accepted the recommendation. The commission stated, "Schools have a responsibility to protect student human rights from the perspective of the best interests of the child," and announced it had made the findings public.