In a society where education is deeply connected to personal success and national progress, how a country sets its education policies matters greatly. In South Korea, education has long been a top priority — but also a topic of frequent political debate and constant change. To bring greater consistency, vision, and fairness to the nation’s education system, the National Education Committee (NEC) was established. This new, independent body is now at the center of Korea’s efforts to create long-term, future-oriented education policies that can serve students, teachers, and society more effective
Education is often described as the foundation of a nation’s future, and teachers are at the center of that foundation. In South Korea, a country known for its strong emphasis on education and academic achievement, teachers have traditionally held a respected position in society. However, recent incidents involving verbal abuse, threats, and even physical violence by parents toward teachers have raised deep concerns across the country. As cases of parent-led violence increase, many educators and citizens are beginning to ask: what is happening to the relationship between schools, parents, and
Rethinking the Way We Handle School Violence School should be a place where students feel safe, respected, and able to learn freely. However, in recent years, a growing number of reports have shown that school violence — including bullying, verbal abuse, and even physical aggression — continues to be a serious problem in Korea. More concerning is the fact that the current response system often fails to protect victims effectively or to solve the root causes of the problem. If we want real change, it is time to examine what is going wrong and what must be done differently. ◇ What’s Not Working?