The South Korean Ministry of Education unveiled new guidelines for teacher-student interactions following the death of an elementary school teacher whose death raised concerns about potential infringements on teacher rights. Effective from the upcoming fall semester, the guidelines allow teachers to confiscate and inspect students’ phones or eject students causing disruptions in the classroom. Additionally, while teachers must pre-arrange consultation times with parents, they reserve the right to decline meetings outside work hours or on non-job-related topics. Any consultations marred by threats or violence against teachers can be immediately halted by the teachers.

The ministry also rolled out a directive that empowers kindergartens to enforce stringent measures if a guardian or parent violates a teacher’s rights, including possible suspensions or expulsions of the children from kindergartens or mandating guardians to undergo educational and counseling programs.

Why It Matters

The new guideline emerges in response to increasing calls from teachers for a more secure classroom environment and legal backing. Notably, in 2022, an incident involving a South Korean middle school student seemingly filming a teacher with his phone generated significant attention. Advocates for the Ministry of Education’s latest regulations might reference this episode as further evidence of their necessity. By empowering teachers to confiscate and examine students’ phones, the guidelines aim to thwart the disruptive and inappropriate use of electronic devices in classroom settings. Further, by allowing teachers to remove disruptive students, the guidelines offer a tool for more effective classroom governance.

However, potential privacy concerns may arise from these measures. Accessing personal devices can expose confidential information, potentially jeopardizing the trust between educators and students. Additionally, the guidelines remain ambiguous about the precise definition of “disruptive” behavior, leading to potential variability in its enforcement by educators.