By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Nearly one in four mothers in the affluent Gangnam district in southern Seoul has offered money or gifts, known here as ``chonji,'' to their children's teachers.

The Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission surveyed 1,660 parents whose children attend elementary and secondary schools across the country at the beginning of the month.

It showed 18.6 percent of respondents said they had offered money or gifts to teachers.

By region, Gangnam had the highest ratio at 36.4 percent, trailed by South Jeolla Province with 36.2 percent. Busan and Gwangju, came next, with 31.9 percent each.

South Gyeongsang Province had the lowest ratio at 9.5 percent, while Jeju Island and Ulsan recorded 10 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

By grade, parents whose children are first graders in middle school took the largest portion of the money-offering group with 26 percent. More than 25 percent of parents of senior elementary students offered money to teachers.

Countermeasures Planned

Nearly 50 percent of the surveyed said they believe offering money was bribery, and 90 percent of them agreed that parents should not give money to teachers. Only 6 percent of respondents said the acts were mere tokens of gratitude to teachers.

Asked about ways to uproot the irregularities, 21.6 percent of parents suggested improvements of laws and regulations; 20.8 percent said teachers need to display ethics; and 20.7 percent said punishment of those involved in giving and taking the under-the-table money should be strengthened.

ACRC Chairman Yang Kun said the government would take steps to eradicate corruption in the education field.

``To resolve education problems, we must root out corrupt practices in education,'' Yang said at a press conference.

He said the government would come up with comprehensive measures in May to eliminate ``chonji'' at schools.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr