Children listen to a reading lesson in a nursery classroom at an elementary school in Seoul, South Korea (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 15 (Korea Bizwire) – Low salaries and abusive complaints from parents are the top reasons young teachers in South Korea are leaving the profession, according to a new survey that highlights disillusionment in a field once seen as a stable career path.
The poll of over 1,000 teachers in Seoul by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union found that 34% cited insufficient wages to live comfortably in major cities and an equal number pointed to “gapjil” — a Korean term referring to capricious and bullying behavior, often by those in positions of power.
Student disciplinary issues ranked third at 18%, while 8% said negative social perceptions of teachers were a factor in the exodus of educators in their 20s and 30s from public school classrooms.
Other grievances included a lack of rewarding moments, excessive bureaucratic control from education offices, and an inability to focus on core teaching duties. The steadily declining value of public pension payouts was another concern.
The survey, conducted between April 16 and May 12, found an overall job satisfaction score of just 5.7 out of 10 among Seoul’s teachers across kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and special education institutions.
Satisfaction declined as the age of students decreased, with high school and middle school teachers reporting the highest levels at 6.4, followed by elementary schools at 5.3, special education schools also at 5.3, and finally kindergartens with a low of 4.6.
An overwhelming 80% said policies to raise salaries for those early in their teaching careers were “absolutely necessary.” When asked what other support young teachers needed for economic stability beyond higher pay, 83% cited housing assistance, followed by transportation subsidies and aid for cultural activities.
To help nurture the educational rights and professional development of young teachers, the most common suggestion at 30% was reducing administrative and non-teaching workloads.
“Last year’s tragic case at Seoi Elementary School showed that while many enter teaching with great aspirations, the reality makes it difficult to realize those dreams,” the union’s Seoul branch said, referring to a bullying incident that led to a teacher’s death by suicide. “To prevent such tragedies from happening again, support measures for young teachers must be implemented.”
An empty classroom at an elementary school in Sejong City on May 4, marking 49 days since a female teacher at an elementary school in Seoul’s Seocho district took her own life after being subjected to constant malicious complaints from parents. In South Korea, the Buddhist rituals that take place on the 49th day after a person’s death are highly significant. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
