By Nam Hyun-woo
Education authorities will crack down on “hagwon” or private institutions allowing their teachers to impose corporal punishment on their students.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said Monday that many private teachers continue to physically discipline students in breach of the Juvenile Protection Act.
It has therefore decided to file complaints with law enforcement authorities against teachers who violate the law as well as sanctioning institutes found to be culpable.
The SMOE said it has since served official notice to the schools.
The SMOE's latest move came after a series of recent cases were reported to the police.
In May of last year, a teaching assistant at a private academy was accused of assaulting an 11-year-old student. The assistant was fined 500,000 won.
Some parents privately condone corporal punishment in private institutes believing it will spur students to study harder.
An official at the SMOE said, “Corporal punishment is strictly forbidden in both the public and private educational sector. The office will strengthen its crackdown on violent discipline.”