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?
In a country renowned for its fierce academic competition, South Korean teachers now face escalating risks—not solely from the pressures of high-stakes exams, but from a growing wave of verbal abuse, threats, and even violence by parents and students. This troubling trend is triggering a surge in teacher resignations and mental health crises, shaking the foundations of public education. Rising Resignations and Reports of AbuseRecent data paints a stark picture: Nearly 589 teachers with less than five years of experience left the profession between March 2022 and April 2023—a nearly twofold i
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