Teachers Caught Drink-Driving Face Heavier Punishment
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Teachers caught driving drunk will be severely punished regardless of court rulings, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Monday.
The office has worked out stricter regulations on teachers' behavior. According to the new rules, those who are indicted (charged) or even given an indictment suspension, a strong warning which goes into the drivers record and which lasts for five years, can face dismissal or suspension of duties.
Currently, teachers caught drinking and driving are warned, get their salaries reduced or are reprimanded by order of the educational authority.
However, the tightened regulation will bring up the moral standards of public officials, the office spokesperson said.
According to the office, drunken driving cases take up a large portion of law violations by public officials. Last year they marked 14 percent of 317 cases and this year 110 cases were reported from January to April.
``The public has criticized teachers being loosely punished even though the government has put harsh measures against drunken driving and other misdemeanors conducted by civil servants. The new rule will alert those who cause trouble with their bad drinking habits,'' the spokesperson said.