A cry for help from the traumatised teachers living in fear

South Korea's teachers know why a colleague killed herself after being subjected to abuse from parents, according to Park Seo-yoon*. "We've all had similar struggles," she said.

- Raphael Rashid

"We've all received late-night calls from parents accusing us of disrespecting their precious children because they were disciplined for not participating in class," said the primary school teacher. "We've had parents yell at us for not providing extra materials to students who didn't bring their own, insisting that students who don't do their homework shouldn't be punished, or complaining about giving three sentences of praise to one student but only two to the other." 

Teachers across South Korea protested last week, expressing their frustration over the abusive treatment they say they receive from parents and students, including being accused of child abuse for disciplining students. They want better protection.

The teachers' movement was sparked by the death of a 23-year-old teacher in July. She was found dead at her school in Seoul in an apparent suicide after reportedly expressing anxiety over complaints from parents.

Thousands walked out of their classrooms last Monday to mourn her and other teachers who have taken their own lives, and to demand change.