PROBLEMS EXPECTED TO PERSIST
Last April, a survey by the teachers’ union found that 26.5 per cent of teachers had received counselling or treatment for job-related psychological issues, while a whopping 87 per cent have considered quitting.
Experts suggested that the depth of the issue is partly caused by certain societal values in South Korea.
“There is a unique aspect of Korean society, which could be described as intense family-centric, or family self-interest attitudes,” explained social welfare professor Jung Jae-hoon from Seoul Women’s University.
“Parents invest heavily in their children and cannot tolerate the feeling that their child has been wronged. This distorted sense of parental privilege, combined with the high value placed on their child’s education, leads to teachers’ rights violations.”
Observers are doubtful the issue would be resolved anytime soon, pointing to South Korea’s fertility rate – the world’s lowest – which means parents are likely to remain overprotective of their children.
“Nowadays, people have fewer children and so each child is incredibly precious to them. As a result, parents contact the schools more frequently, even for small issues,” said Song Ji-ae, a mother of two children.
Still, teachers CNA spoke to acknowledged that public awareness has grown about the harsh conditions that teachers face.
Mental health professionals have called for more support for South Korean educators, including efforts to reduce stigma and encourage help seeking.
“It’s difficult when a teacher is worried about what happens if they come forward,” said Yvette Lau, a mental health counsellor and former teacher based in Hong Kong.
“School leaders can (help) by encouraging communication, understanding the issues and challenges that teachers struggle with, and creating a culture of communication and support.”
