A teacher organization has called for effective countermeasures after a middle school student in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, recently assaulted a teacher, sending the victim to the emergency room.
The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) and the Gyeonggi Provincial Federation of Teachers' Associations issued a press release Wednesday, stating, "Another incident of a teacher being injured by student assault during class has occurred at the start of the new semester," and emphasized that "fundamental measures to address repeated student violence against teachers are urgently needed."
According to KFTA, a male student assaulted a female teacher during a physical education class at a middle school in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, late last month, causing injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment. The teacher was reportedly taken to the emergency room following the incident. The case has been filed with the regional Teaching Rights Protection Committee and is scheduled for review on the 20th of this month.
"Victimized teachers who suffer assault and battery from their students must stand at the podium while battling trauma that will never heal," said Kang Joo-ho, chairman of KFTA. "It is never appropriate for assault and battery, which constitute serious crimes under criminal law, to be treated lightly."
He continued, "Currently, school violence between students is recorded in student records and reflected in college admissions, whereas even if a student is transferred or expelled for assaulting a teacher, no record is left in their student file." Kang argued that student record documentation is necessary for "serious violations of teaching rights" and urged, "The National Assembly must immediately pass the amendment to the 'Act on the Status of Teachers.'"
According to data titled "Education Activity Infringement and Teacher Protection Through Data" published by the National Assembly Library in December last year, violations of educational activities including assault, battery, and sexual violence against teachers increased from a daily average of 3.5 cases in 2024 to 4.1 cases in the first semester of 2025.
Survey results also show that seven out of ten teachers feel their educational activities are not adequately protected. In a survey conducted by the Korean Teachers' Union Federation from July 14-18 last year targeting 3,559 teachers across kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and special education schools nationwide, 2,581 respondents (72.6%) said teachers' educational activities are not sufficiently protected. Types of violations included refusal to follow guidance and intentional interference (57.2%), repeated complaints with unjustified purposes (32.3%), obstruction of official duties (21.0%), and threats (18.2%).