Education in South Korea: When Competitiveness Turns Destructive

Lee Min-so, a young primary school teacher in South Korea, expressed her fear and distress in her diary as she faced overwhelming pressure from work and parental complaints. In June 2022, she tragically took her own life in her classroom’s storage cupboard. This incident sparked outrage among primary school teachers across South Korea, leading to widespread strikes demanding better workplace protection.

Lee’s cousin, Park Du-yong, uncovered hundreds of diary entries and text messages revealing that she had been bombarded with complaints from parents in the months preceding her suicide. Tens of thousands of teachers rallied in Seoul, fearful of being labeled child abusers and unable to discipline disruptive students.

This culture of complaining is intensified by South Korea’s hyper-competitive society, where academic success is paramount, and parents often prioritize their children’s achievements above all else. Inequality, entitlement, and societal pressures compound the problem, with parents sometimes looking down on teachers.

The prevalence of bullying among students adds to teachers’ stress, and government initiatives have only increased parental pressure on educators to erase their children’s wrongdoings.

To address the crisis, the government issued new guidelines for teachers, allowing them to remove disruptive students and refuse after-hours meetings with parents.

Lee Min-so’s tragic death highlights the need for reforms in South Korea’s education system and societal values. Many argue for a more compassionate and balanced approach to education to prioritize the well-being of both students and teachers, shifting away from a narrow focus on grades as the sole measure of success.