From Esteem to Exhaustion: The Unheard Struggles of South Korean Teachers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: South Korean Educators: Identity, Language, and Inclusion

Abstract

In South Korea, teaching was historically perceived as a rewarding career. However, in 2023, 300,000 teachers protested against parental abuse, demanding protection of their rights sparked by the suicide of a 23-year-old elementary school teacher in Seoul. In response, five amendments to the law aimed to protect teachers' rights by national and provincial educational departments. Despite these efforts, teachers continue to feel their well-being and rights are not being protected. Within this context, our paper aims to uncover the lived experiences of teachers to understand how systems and policies impact their lives. While participants in our study held a belief that the purpose of education should be aspirational, systemic challenges were emphasized, preventing teachers from fulfilling their core purpose.

Authors

• Paul Koh, Towson University

• Sunun Park, Cheongju National University of Education

• Ji Hyun Hong, Emory University