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)
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The mental health of elementary school staff in South Korea is under scrutiny as nearly 10,000 employees reported suffering from depression in 2023, according to data released by the National Health Insurance Service.
This alarming trend follows a high-profile incident involving the suicide of a new teacher at an elementary school in Seoul’s Seocho district, reportedly due to relentless parental complaints.
The number of elementary school staff seeking treatment for depression has surged 2.3 times over the past five years, rising from 16.4 per 1,000 employees in 2018 to 37.2 per 1,000 in 2023. In 2024, the upward trajectory continues, with 7,004 cases reported in just the first half of the year.
The mental health crisis extends beyond elementary schools, with staff at middle and high schools, universities, and daycare facilities also experiencing increases in depression and anxiety disorders.
A majority of South Korean teachers in their 20s and 30s are considering changing careers due to dissatisfaction with their salaries. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
For example, depression rates among secondary school staff rose from 14.9 per 1,000 employees in 2018 to 28.8 in 2023, while anxiety disorders increased from 15.1 to 24.1 per 1,000 over the same period.
In the early education sector, depression rates grew from 10.3 per 1,000 staff in 2018 to 16.9 in 2023. Similar trends were observed in higher education and daycare facilities, reflecting a broader issue across all levels of education.
The crisis may further deter prospective teachers, as indicated by a sharp rise in dropouts from teacher training programs. In 2023, 667 students left South Korea’s 10 teacher’s colleges and three elementary education programs, a 34.5% increase from the previous year.
Representative Jin Sun-mee of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, who revealed the data, called for immediate measures. “The shadow of depression in education is deepening year by year,” she said. “We must address the challenges faced by those on the frontlines to improve the overall quality of education.”
The findings underscore the urgent need for systemic support for educators, whose mental well-being is critical to maintaining a robust and effective education system.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
