*Disclaimer: This article discusses sensitive topics, including self-harm—reader discretion is advised.*

“My chest feels so stuffy. I feel like I’m going to fall somewhere. I don’t even know where I am,” a Korean elementary teacher wrote in her diary just days before their self-inflicted death.

Over the past decade, 168 South Korean educators have taken their own lives due to insolent students and persistent harassment from parents. This trend prevails in all environments, from elementary classrooms to high school corridors.

In 2010, the Office of Education banned corporal punishment(체벌) to protect students’ rights—a reform with good intentions but unintended consequences. While the ban on corporal punishment was meant to protect students, it revealed a deeper issue: a societal attitude that undervalues the teaching profession.

Often, many students feel emboldened to act rudely, knowing that the consequences—such as detention—are insignificant. While physical discipline should not be reinstated, the lack of effective alternatives led to a decline in classroom discipline. As a result, students increasingly disregard instructions, mock educators, and even engage in verbal or physical abuse. “These incidents have definitely become more frequent. Even among my friends, they swear behind teachers’ backs or bully them based on their names or personalities,” said Min-gi Shin from Dong Middle School.

As educators lose authority due to a lack of consequences, classrooms descend into chaos. Shin said, “When corporal punishment was abolished, students lost their fear and respect for instructors, creating a poor learning environment.” A lack of discipline, coupled with societal disregard for teachers, continues to fuel classroom disrespect.

Societal attitudes like excessive parental interference and a lack of respect for educators, worsen the issue. According to South Korea’s Teachers’ Union Federation , 68.5% of teachers experienced infringements by students’ guardians.

As a result, many instructors feel unsupported and hesitant to enforce rules. “Teachers today face immense pressure from both parents and students, making it difficult to uphold discipline and focus on education,” said Hosun Kim, a former middle school dean in Korea. This lack of patronage not only discourages them to take necessary actions but also encourages students to defy their instructors’ authority.

In extreme cases, the stress of disrespectful students and oppressive parents takes a ruinous toll. A recent case in Daejeon saw an elementary teacher take the life of an 8-year-old student, reportedly driven by severe psychological distress and isolation. While an outlier, this tragedy highlights the immense pressure teachers face and the urgent need for systemic changes to protect their well-being.

To restore classroom order and protect teachers’ welfare, Korea must implement systemic education reforms. One critical step is to reduce class sizes in public schools. With the steady decline in student population due to the birth rate crisis, now is the ideal time to implement these changes.

Private schools, with their smaller faculty-student ratios, create a structured environment where students receive more attention and leaders impose discipline efficiently. Applying similar policies in the public system—either by hiring more professionals or redistributing resources—would help reestablish authority and improve classroom behavior.

The government must take steps to expand Korea’s subject-specific classroom system(교과 교실제), where teachers instruct in specialized classrooms instead of staying in one homeroom all day. This system, already used in international and American schools, strengthens instructional quality and eases the heavy administrative burden on teachers.

With these policies, we see a brighter future where educators can focus on their expertise rather than juggling multiple subjects and excessive administrative tasks. By distributing administrative responsibilities to other staff, educators could focus on individual issues and classroom order. A specialized and respected teaching force could lead to healthier work environments and, ultimately, a decline in burnout and self-harm.

Restoring respect for teachers requires stronger disciplinary policies and a shift in societal attitudes. With Korea’s population decline, now is the time to make the necessary reforms in order to ease the burden on educators. Schools must reestablish classroom authority and ensure teachers have the support they need to enforce discipline and focus on education. Only when society collectively supports and appreciates the contributions of educators, classrooms can once again become spaces of growth and cooperation.

This story was originally published on Jets Flyover on February 26, 2025.