Half of teachers punished for sex offenses still teaching

By Lee Kyung-min

Almost half the teachers who were punished for sex offenses are still teaching in schools, government data shows.

According to the Ministry of Education Monday, 240 elementary, middle and high school teachers have received punishments from authorities for committing sex crimes over the past five years. Of them, 115, including 33 teachers who committed crimes against minors, are still teaching.

It’s unknown how many of the teachers went to trial.

The information casts doubt on the government’s repeated pledges to deal sternly with teachers involved in sex crimes.

The teachers can continue getting teaching jobs after being punished due to a legal loophole, according to Rep. Min Hyun-joo of the ruling Saenuri Party.

Under the law, those who were punished for sexual offenses against children and minors are banned for 10 years from getting hired at schools or hagwons, otherwise know as cram schools.

However, there are exceptions.

According to Min’s office, accused teachers can continue teaching if a court suspends its deliberations due to lack of evidence or other reasons, if the law enforcement authorities suspend or drop their cases or if the cases were resolved by schools.

An official from the lawmaker’s office said the National Assembly plans to amend the law to prevent punished teachers from returning to school.

A high school teacher in Seoul still has his job although he was punished for sexual assault on subway line No. 2. He touched a woman in her 20s on her buttocks.

Another high school teacher in South Gyeonsang Province is still teaching although he sexually assaulted one of his students after putting her in his car.

Min, a member of the Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, and other lawmakers are preparing to amend the law to make the accused teachers pay the price for their behavior.

The Ministry of Education is being criticized for not acting fast enough despite this longstanding problem.

In January, it put out a statement saying that it was willing to actively fight the sex crimes committed against minors by their teachers.

Specifically the ministry said it would come up with three plans to deal with the problem: Mandatory sex education sessions for teachers during their training, expelling teachers who assault minors and harsh punishment by the district offices’ disciplinary committee of the Ministry of Education.

Seven months have passed, but it appears those changes are still in the planning stages.

An official from the teacher policy division of the Ministry of Education said that it would release a statement in a month regarding the plan.

As for the specifics, he said, “It is not currently ready to share with the press. Wait for a month.”

As for the mandatory sex education as prevention measure, he said that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is responsible for that.

When asked whether more effort should be put into dealing with those teachers since the education ministry has the power to affect them directly, he said, “I agree with the idea, and we are planning.”