Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Concerns grow over teachers' rights in bills aimed at protecting students
Mourners visit a memorial altar set up for Kim Ha-neul, a first-grader who was killed last week by her teacher, at an elementary school in Daejeon, Feb. 13. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Critics warn Ha-neul Act could target teachers for mental health
Concerns have been raised about new legislation intended to enhance student safety in schools, with critics arguing that the bills could be misused to target teachers — particularly over their mental health.
Following the brutal murder of first-grader Kim Ha-neul last week at the hands of a teacher, lawmakers from both major parties have proposed nearly 10 bills aimed at making schools safer for students. The teacher, who had been diagnosed with depression, had recently returned to work after taking a brief leave.
Some bills aim to allow principals to suspend teachers from duty immediately if they are deemed unfit for work due to mental health issues. Other bills seek to establish a committee tasked with screening out teacher candidates with mental health concerns and with deciding whether to permit teachers to return to work after taking sick leave for their mental health.
Yet those bills have been met with criticism from many doctors and teachers.
“The biggest problem is that we do not know whether the suspect’s mental condition played any role in triggering her to commit that crime,” Kim Seong-geun, a doctor and spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association, told The Korea Times on Tuesday. “Many psychiatrists say those suffering from depression have a tendency of hurting themselves rather than others.”
Depression should not be blamed for a crime just because the suspect has exhibited such symptoms unless evidence confirms a causal link, he added.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, a labor union of educators, also shares such concerns.
If legislators approve a bill requiring teachers to share information about their mental health to operate a management system targeting “high-risk” teachers, many would just keep such information to themselves, the union said in a recent statement.
“Many teachers would hide their mental health conditions in fear of being singled out and or given disadvantages instead of seeking medical help,” it said. “It is also concerning that principals may abuse the power to suspend teachers from work on the basis of their subjective evaluation … People who have no medical expertise should not be making such calls.”
In response to the concerns, Rep. Jin Sung-joon, head of the policy committee at the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, promised to consider teachers’ rights in drafting the final bill for legislation.
“Teachers are the closest to students and play a key role in ensuring their safety. Therefore, their human rights and autonomy must be supported and factored into a new law,” Jin said at a meeting in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The same day, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho and lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party also held a meeting to discuss issues regarding the “Ha-neul Act.”
According to the ministry, the participants mostly discussed how to select the right candidates. It said it will address any concerns raised by experts as its officials try to come up with measures with lawmakers.