“I Feel Helpless”: South Korean Teachers Grapple With Stress & Abuse | Insight | Full Episode

[@iradahmm]

I still suffer from PTSD because of the way I lost my job here in the US. Teachers seem to have no rights, everything is the teacher's fault according to parents. I won't go back to teaching in schools because of this. Since they know their rights so well, let them teach the necessary knowledge to their kids.

[@anarchistonsunsetdrive7813]

I could relate.

[@naominaomi7550]

It shall be 🙂

[@PumpTrapOne]

I'm really sorry to read about this. The parents themselves need a wake-up call, but they can be children themselves sometimes, it's stupidly annoying.

[@DavidNunezPNW]

I am a teacher in the Island of Jindo and from my time here I think this problem is more of a Seoul or big city issue because the teachers at the schools around me tell me t's not like this at all. The kids are so polite and respectful. I could not have asked for better kids or co-workers. That being said I am happy the CNA is shedding light to this serious issue happening in the larger cities. I support the teachers wholeheartedly.

[@mageedays]

@@DavidNunezPNW wow what a big difference. Hope it will change soon to those parents and students will have respect to their hard working teachers. If those teachers will all resign no one will teach their children.

[@Event_Horizon14]

This is pretty endemic everyone. I live in Europe and I've personally seen incidents where elementary-level students were physically assaulting a teacher. This isn't a student issue, though - it's the parents, full stop. These kids have never been given any boundaries. I'm in my 30s now but when I was their age I would've never even dreamt of disrespecting an adult, let alone daring to swing at them. This is all the parents' fault and it'll catch up to them, too. I'm sure it's not just the teachers getting it - no way these little monsters don't throw the same tamtrums at home, too.

[@MeryRoseAzeAjero]

Spending such long hours to study in private academies until 10 PM, apart from the regular day school, it’s education for them, it’s cruelty for us non-Koreans.

[@mageedays]

Agree.

[@cheriecheng3938]

It’s common education in China as well.

[@naominaomi7550]

Singapore is not that “far” from exacerbating education stresses :)

[@sophiesong8937]

Do you think it's not cruelty to Korean children?

[@dianefleming9765]

I don’t understand how crime is apparently so low in SK if this poor behaviour is acceptable in schools . Any ideas ?

[@greedyreader15]

Data manipulation, students being let off with warnings, domestic violence cases being dismissed as couples' quarrels, drunk people mostly getting away with anything because the law is more lenient if under the influence, (most koreans are not far away from functional alcoholics), yes even with murder. People and districts being more worried about school reputation and teachers sympathising with perpetrators even when facing the victims, sexual misconduct being more commonly punished with fines rather than jail time, (see lenient charges and jail times for people convicted, grape maximum 10 or 15 years, but that has only one case most known and it was that bad because the victim was a child). When children are involved the song rarely changes, one case little girl abused, by step father they came to an agreement and settled, reason: the father had provided and paid well for the victim during those years... Even before the South Korea trend multiple women had gotten graped but seeking justice in a country that defended the men that had assaulted them was useless...

[@roythousand13]

South Korea are under-reporting their crime rates.

[@charzemc]

​​@@greedyreader15a very honest answer that is rare on this platform.

[@jiminswriter4209]

Crime is low, but not due to data manipulation. The reason you see this behavior in children is due to the more lenient sentencing of minors.

[@greedyreader15]

@@jiminswriter4209 80 percent of crimes are not committed by minors, data omission is still manipulation, because you purposely omit something to make it look favourable. Crime is not low, just unreported

[@bobbybannerjee5156]

This is what happens when you privatise education, or anything. In the name of efficiency and quality, you make people's lives not worth living. It's a lesson we still haven't learnt. When I see the United States, for instance, people from both sides of the political aisle still feel good about the idea of an unregulated market. If that's how we all feel, we deserve the way the market treats us, I suppose.

[@jiminswriter4209]

Korean education is mostly public, except for private schools and institutes.

[@bobbybannerjee5156]

@@jiminswriter4209 Good to hear but public schools are failing. Why can't we ban all private education to help decrease pressure on public schools?

[@bobbybannerjee5156]

I think the teaching profession is a microcosm of the rest of the Korean society. Rugged competition and a dog-eat-dog mentality will permeate all areas of work and life.

[@c_cma1971]

I do not say that teachers are saints, but poor them:( I stand with teachers. Those spoiled brats of students are so terrible and will cost our society even more!!

[@beniirama4076]

kids nowadays think because they paid the costly school/tuition fee they can act whatever they like against their teachers.. if me, i gave those kids a proper smack down to make them behave.. the parents sue me? bring it on. otherwise they can tutor their kids themselves.

[@ourmuse]

i believe this is due to the way we treat school as a business. no longer a place to seek knowledge. unfortunately. if we come to school to learn stuffs, we should realise how important to be polite and respectful towards teachers. not treating them as workers.

[@PP-vf1kx]

🤕 bad parents…bad offspring!

[@seahbyefongseah7453]

Studebts in SK are quite pressured no time to play and relax. Luckily I'm not born there.

[@seahbyefongseah7453]

Students **

[@GX_2310]

@@seahbyefongseah7453 Personally, I don't see error there.

[@fransmith3255]

Perhaps Korea, and not only Korea, but other countries too, need to start attaching behaviour records to University and job application, or start providing searchable school behaviour records for prospective Universities and workplaces. So that if a child behaves badly in school, their chances at University diminish. Do we really want those kinds of people to hold leadership positions in our societies that University education tends to lead to? I don't think so. Universities should be looking for well balanced students, who are capable of contributing to society in a meaningly way. Kids that can't behave respectfully, or are never taught to behave respectfully by parents, are never going to be able to fulfilll those kinds of demands successfully. If school behaviour histories were attached to University entrance applications perhaps parents would be less inclined to allow their little "treasures" to behave badly, and might be less inclined to behave badly themselves.

[@sophiesong8937]

Yikes. What a horrible idea. There is a reason children aren't generally held criminally culpable- it's that their brains are not fully developed. Such a system would be ripe for abuse. I once had a teacher who played favourites and would selectively punish kids she disliked for behaviours all students did.. there are also kids who misbehave as a result of abuse or bullying they are victims of.. kids also mis behave when they have insufficient sleep or food.. or as the result of disabilities or neurodivergence.. korea has no anti discrimination law as it is, behavioural records like you suggest would have truly terrible consequences.

[@BadMrFrosty999]

There is a dark side to Korean society. It's absolutely crazy to hear the horror stories. Been discussed on Reddit for several years already

[@PickleChillin]

What is sad is that a lot of people in high positions got there due to people they know while having average grades or even lack of experience. The hard workers mostly end up being paid less or told to constantly strive for perfection. I don't put pressure on my child to make perfect grades, try their best and just to pass. I work with my child's teachers to see how I can assist. There are so many people without jobs that have degrees. Why not try to teach the kids how to executive function, be creative, self-reflection, emotional awareness, building community, health, finances and exploring natural talents or interests. Life is too short to be this appressed. I don't blame parents fully, it's definitely societies expectations that need to change or there won't be a future. Everyone is a person trying their best, give everyone grace and stand in their shoes.

[@PP-vf1kx]

🥴 bad parents…equal bad offspring!

[@htmoh8115]

Studying so hard until death comes to you at any given time. Is that all your life is mounts up to?

[@beniirama4076]

all that just to became corporate slave with mininum wage..

[@Youyouhssssjjjnnhbb-xj7yl]

Why blur the kids faces? Anyway those kids their future is over anyway. Korean society has a strong cancellation culture, when the kids grow up they won't find any job

[@jiminswriter4209]

They don’t want to be sued. Revealing the kids faces will help them be canceled.

[@cventer838]

Back in the good old days, you needed a Testimonial when you completed 12 th grade. If you misbehaved, you didn't receive one or your behaviour was recorded on it. Shocking behavior! My kids completed school, the youngest now 21. The schools they attended, prestigious boys and girls schools in South-Africa, don't tolerate bad behaviour! You get expelled, period! They all experienced High School, 8th to 12th grade in an orderly, well disciplined fashion. It's a reflection of the morals of a society, starting at home! There should be VERY clear boundaries. Complaint chanels don't go through the teachers, but department heads and headmasters. They have it all wrong! You can't "beat up" a teacher! Jeee whiskers! It's disrespectful. Fortunately for us, we have many good Universities. You get provisional acceptance based on your 11th grade marks. The SAT tests are only for certain study fields! Eg medicine. I think each country has its own standards which we all respect, but can't they be more reasonable with their expectations on children? Not once, in my childrens school careers have they been emotionally abused by any teachers. It must be a SK issue! I think SK has socio-psychological issues rooted in their society they need to work on. You aren't allowed to publically voice your opinion about criticism on certain topics. You must always pretend you're fine! It's sad. Teachers won't speak up if they feel abused! Part of the education process of teachers, is covering psycology. Identifying various potential problems you might encounter in the work place and how to deal with it. Going to school till 10:00 at night is not heard of in SA. You might be in an orchestra or choir till 9 or 8 at night, doing sport after school, have an instrument lesson etc, but schools end generally at about 14:20. Then you do your various sports and homework. I know my kids worked hard till late at night or early mornings, especially if you play any first team hockey, rugby or netball. Some days they needed to be at school after 5 for training! It's no picnick, but they loved it! Shouldn't complaints against teachers be dealt with by the department of Education and the Headmasters? Why the police? The school first needs to determine if a complaint is valid or slanderous! It's impossible for teachers to discipline children who are excused by "emotional abuse". Normal discipline is necessary if kids behave badly, how can you leave them and not help the right with kindness! Schools should have school psychologists. Emotional and educational issues get dealt with very well by educational psychologists! Each good high school SA has one. Sk needs to do some sifting, determine if the child is the problem or the teacher. ❤ My sincere question is this. If you have school after school, isn't your education style the issue? I know nothing of SK education, but wonder why this style of education is implemented! Is it truely necessary to have such extensive after school classes?

[@thantzinmaung-yq6cu]

Video not available? I live in korea btw.

[@John_Smith_86]

While it is true that teachers from many Asian countries face high stress, but at least Singaporean teachers receive a high government salary and China teachers receive Red Packets from the parents. It is Japanese teachers who are in the middle and Korean teachers who are at the bottom in overall welfare, I suspect.

[@mageedays]

Maybe we have here also or maybe not at all.. but I never heard any teacher(s) took their own life because of students or parents pressure insult. We still respect our teachers. Sk well educated?, but failed regarding their attitude towards other people 😅 I don't know why they like to bully others. I really like to visit sk bec of kpop, but I don't like to live there because of this kind of issue.

[@John_Smith_86]

It is Korean culture to bully people. In the West, society pretends everyone is equal. In Singapore, we don't say it aloud. In Korea, you abuse the inferiors. It is a spectrum from extremes to extremes.

[@jiminswriter4209]

That is a very ignorant comment. Most Koreans do not bully others.

[@mageedays]

@@jiminswriter4209 if you are educated enough respect your teachers, and respect other people. Tell me why sk have the "highest" "Suicidal issues" than other countries??? What a rich and diversity country but... O well.

[@andrewlim892]

When looking at this and other issues that contribute to the failing of Korean society, it is no wonder why many South Koreans wish to move abroad.

[@mageedays]

@@andrewlim892 and let their children study abroad too.

[@andrewlim892]

@@mageedays They and their family wish to escape "hell joseon"

[@mageedays]

@@andrewlim892 yeah reality...

[@PP-vf1kx]

…western counterparts have the same issues…where to,now?🤕

[@oldtabrough1026]

I cannot imagine the added stress to the teachers if South Korea's ranking in PISA studies drop. Just out of curiosity, do teachers in small towns and districts have these problems too? Seems to me that all these incidents are in major cities only. I'm curious

[@fransmith3255]

It's not in my small schools in Korea. My kids are lovely! But parental pressure is still sometimes there in terms of wanting their kids to succeed. Country areas are different. They're still pretty traditional and everyone knows everyone. So reputations are a lot more detrimental there. Country kids are a lot less anonymous - their behaviour would be gossip around the town within the hour. It's different in the country. I also taught in my western country before coming to Korea. This is just Korea catching up with the rest of the world in terms of kids' bad behaviour. It's been in the western world for a couple decades now. The thing is that teachers have always been highly respected in South Korea in a way that just has never been the case in western countries. Teachers have had almost no respect for several decades now in western countries. Teachers in Korea have never had to deal with these types of behaviours, until very recently, that western teachers have been dealing with for years, and I suspect they just don't know how to because they've never had to. South Korea is sadly simply catching up to the status quo that has been the case in western countries for decades. Its quite a sad state of affairs when parents are no longer to blame for their children's bad behaviour.

[@oldtabrough1026]

@@fransmith3255 interesting insight. Thanks for sharing

[@fransmith3255]

@@oldtabrough1026 No worries. I might add that I love teaching in South Korea, but most probably because I teach in country areas where I can really get to know my kids well, which was my original choice and one I've never regretted. Reputation is important in country areas, unlike the anonymity of cities - and reputation is VERY important in Korea - much moreso than in western countries. And in country areas personality quirks are well known and dealt with as a society through long term experience and knowledge of the person in question. Similar to country areas in western countries, right? Korea has just as much personal quirkiness as western society. 😂 And I actually find country people quite amazingly and surprisingly supportive of their fellow citizens' quirkinesses. 😍 These problems arise in cities because that process can't happen in cities efficiently. There are two main differences between a country town in Korea and a similar one in my country: first, Korean people tend to consider the wider view when they make decisions, while western people tend to consider their own narrow views, second Korean people really factor in prevention (both current and future) as primary importance, while western countries don't - western countries just fix particular situations as they arise like putting out fires. These are the two larges differences. Not always,of course, but generally speaking. Different culture, but similar humanity. 🙂

[@Youyouhssssjjjnnhbb-xj7yl]

CNA love your k-pop documentary but you guys still do not cover the Kdrama industry behind the scenes, pls do full documentary on Kdrama industry focusing on the artists committing suicides, Kdrama craze, etc

[@cabechanel9562]

Same as teacher in my country. ☹️🥺

[@ourmuse]

school and university can never be a business activity. will never work that way.

[@PP-vf1kx]

😵‍💫 taking your own life is a a bit extreme!

[@rawtv9295]

factory producing batc by batch of products. customer service is the new thing to troubleshoot thw problem. but it creates another problem.. Teachers are quitting. 😂😢

[@저기요-c5n]

맞는 부분도 있는데 이영상은 조금 과장해서 말하는 부분도 있네요.

[@LIFEs_everything]

시간도 찍어주셨으면 좋겠습니다 어느부분이 과장되었는지

[@ArabicReja973]

Koreans still bear painful memories about: - China🇨🇳 declared Kim Chi its national dish and Hanbok a national dress. - Chinese skaters pushed Korean athletes to disqualify in the Olympics. - Chinese many attempts to change Korean ancient history.

[@Swiplys]

Hey western propagandists, how are you doing? Please make sure to keep the koreans in the phone sweatshops, we want our cheap phones in the West even if that does mean paying dimes to the Koreans

[@cheriecheng3938]

Nonsense. So many Korean athletes play tricks in sports competitions many times. The last sentence is the biggest joke, you’re like the thief screaming others stealing your stuff, which in reality is completely the opposite.

[@jiminswriter4209]

@@cheriecheng3938China has a long history of stealing other people’s land and cultures, including Korea’s. Korea has not stolen anything from China, but the Chinese government would like its citizens to believe so to strengthen the influence of the CCP and stem the Korean Wave. Thus, it makes up lies like Kimchi is Chinese, etc.

[@zarithevill]

Bunch of nerds. Just chill lmao. Look at the west like norway (ignore USA), chill academics yet dominant.

[@jl5973]

yes and I suppose Norway having oil reserves and the world's largest sovereign wealth fund has nothing to do with it

[@zarithevill]

​@@jl5973 If we're looking at it that way then Singapore is number 1 in the world in terms of education according to the global PISA scores of 2024 yet govt spendings toward education were way lesser compared to SK, much more chill school times compared to SK and has far less resources and natural resources compared to SK while still being globally dominant in many economic sectors compared to SK, but would I study in SG? Hell no, Asian countries in general are freaking try herds when it comes to education. I would rather live a moderate life like in norway or other white countries while still getting paid higher than those asian try hards.

[@zarithevill]

But would I study in SG? Hell no, Asian countries in general are freaking try herds when it comes to education. I would rather live a moderate life like in norway or other white countries while still getting paid higher than those asian try hards.

[@John_Smith_86]

What nonsense. Europe is around 20% to 30% poorer than the US. How is that dominant? It is not that big a difference in living standards, true. But certainly not dominant

[@John_Smith_86]

@@zarithevill Yea, that is the thing though. Singapore enjoys the 3rd highest GNI per capita PPP*. You get a very very good life in exchange for all the hard work. Many people would choose this path. *Qatar and Norway both have massive oil and gas reserves

[@mrtienphysics666]

Singapore MOE has no such problems.

[@zarithevill]

I really hate the interviewees. They talk about the messed up system and yet they are part of it and maintaining said system. All bark and no bite tbh

[@jiminswriter4209]

They still need to earn a living. What do you suggest they do?

[@thewanderer765]

"All bark and no bite tbh" how I'll be looking at bro after he says that to the Mexican cartel:

[@JosephSolisAlcaydeAlberici]

Compulsory public education is becoming obsolete with the advent of AI and since AI would require reducing manpower in the education sector together with the absolute decrease in the number of school-age children population.

[@anziar3038]

S'pore has the best education system in the world, thanks to the first-world PAP govt ranked the most effective in the world.❤

[@John_Smith_86]

It is pretty obvious that it is the fault of these public school teachers. Why are they causing issues by interacting with these students? Just mind your own business and recite your textbooks like a monk. Your role is no longer to teach; that role has already been diverted to the private sector. Obey the law.

[@bobbybannerjee5156]

so what is the role of a public teacher?

[@John_Smith_86]

@@bobbybannerjee5156 recite your textbooks like a monk

[@bobbybannerjee5156]

@@John_Smith_86 That's not education.

[@John_Smith_86]

@@bobbybannerjee5156 correct

[@jiminswriter4209]

You sound very ignorant.

[@philharrison2991]

The Philippine-American War pitted one time allies in the overthrow of Spain against each other. Spain negotiated a separate peace with the United States in the Treaty of Paris, ceding colonial rule of the Philippine Islands to the Americans rather than granting the Filipinos independence. The American government accepted this new imperial role, and set about subduing any Filipinos who resisted. In this scene, the city of Iloilo is captured from Filipino forces by Americans led by Brigadier General Marcus Miller, with no loss of American lives. (Diorama in the Ayala Museum, Makati, Philippines, 2018.) Waging the American War How did the Americans justify their takeover of the Philippines? Are you convinced by this argument? In your opinion, did American conduct during the war match these justifications? Why or why not? How did the American military attempt to counter rumors of their brutality? Annexation of the Philippines as a colony of the United States was often justified by those in the U.S. government and media on moral and racial grounds. The U.S. was simply doing its duty as an advanced, Western nation, spreading civilization, democracy, and capitalism to primitive Asians who enjoyed none of these things and were too simple to be trusted with self-government. Historian Stuart Creighton Miller writes that in this view, “Americans altruistically went to war with Spain to liberate Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Filipinos from their tyrannical yoke. If they lingered on too long in the Philippines, it was to protect the Filipinos from European predators waiting in the wings for an American withdrawal and to tutor them in American-style democracy.” Implicit in this attitude were notions of racial superiority and the inherent superiority of white America over primitive people of color. The ugly reality of Americans colonial mission was laid bare by Dean Worcester, an American colonial official, who wrote in his memoirs that the Filipinos were “treacherous, arrogant, stupid and vindictive, impervious to gratitude, incapable of recognizing obligations. Centuries of barbarism have made them cunning and dishonest. We cannot safely treat them as equals, for the simple and sufficient reason that they could not understand it. They do not know the meaning of justice and good faith. They do not know the difference between liberty and license…. These Filipinos must be taught obedience and be forced to observe, even if they cannot comprehend, the practices of civilization. On February 11, 1899-only one week after the first shots of the war were fired-American naval forces destroyed the city of Iloilo with bombardment by the USS Petrel and the USS Baltimore. The city was then captured by ground forces led by Brigadier General Marcus Miller, with no loss of American lives. Months later, after finally securing Manila from Filipino control, American forces moved northwards, engaging in combat at the brigade and battalion level in pursuit of the fleeing insurgent forces and their commanders. In response to the use of guerilla warfare tactics by Filipino forces beginning in September 1899, American military strategy shifted to a suppression footing. Tactics became focused on the control of key areas with internment and segregation of the civilian population in “zones of protection” from the guerrilla population (foreshadowing the Strategic Hamlet Program that would be utilized decades later, during the Vietnam War). Due to unsanitary conditions, many of the interned civilians died from dysentery. General Otis gained notoriety for some of his actions in the Philippines. Although multiple orders were given to Otis from Washington to avoid military conflict, he did very little to prevent the breakout of war. Otis refused to accept anything but unconditional surrender from the Philippine Army. He often made major military decisions without first consulting leadership in Washington. He acted aggressively in dealing with the Filipinos under the assumption that their resistance would collapse quickly. A member of the American colonial government offered an alternative theory on what Bell was achieving, noting in his official report that far from breaking the spirit of the Filipino people, the blanket policy of violence and destruction was: … sowing the seeds for a perpetual revolution. If these things need be done, they had best be done by native troops so that the people of the U.S.. will not be credited therewith. Otis also played a large role in suppressing information about American military tactics from the media. When letters describing American atrocities reached the American media, the War Department became involved and demanded that Otis investigate their authenticity. Each press clipping was forwarded to the original writer’s commanding officer, who would then convince or force the soldier to write a retraction of the original statements. Meanwhile, Otis claimed that Filipino insurgents tortured American prisoners in “fiendish fashion.” During the closing months of 1899, Aguinaldo attempted to counter Otis’ account by suggesting that neutral parties-foreign journalists or representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross-inspect his military operations. Otis refused, but Aguinaldo managed to smuggle four reporters-two English, one Canadian, and one Japanese-into the Philippines. The correspondents returned to Manila to report that American captives were “treated more like guests than prisoners,” were “fed the best that the country affords, and everything is done to gain their favor.” The story went on to say that American prisoners were offered commissions in the Filipino army and that three had accepted. The four reporters were expelled from the Philippines as soon as their stories were printed. U.S. Navy Lieutenant J.C. Gilmore, whose release was forced by American cavalry pursuing Aguinaldo into the mountains, insisted that he had received “considerable treatment” and that he was no more starved than were his captors. Otis responded to publication of two articles concerning this by ordering the “capture” of the two authors, and that they be “investigated,” therefore questioning their loyalty. When F.A. Blake of the International Committee of the Red Cross arrived at Aguinaldo’s request, Otis kept him confined to Manila, where Otis’ staff explained all of the violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Filipino soldiers. Blake managed to slip away from an escort and venture into the field. Blake never made it past American lines, but even within American lines he saw burned out villages and “horribly mutilated bodies, with stomachs slit open and occasionally decapitated.” Blake waited to return to San Francisco, where he told one reporter that “American soldiers are determined to kill every Filipino in sight.” H.L. Wells, a staunch imperialist writing in the New York Evening Post, excused the troubling American racial theories that contributed to the often callous violence that characterized the Philippine-American War “There is no question that our men do ‘shoot niggers’ somewhat in the sporting spirit, but that is because war and their environments have rubbed off the thin veneer of civilization…Undoubtedly, they do not regard the shooting of Filipinos just as they would the shooting of white troops. This is partly because they are “only niggers,” and partly because they despise them for their treacherous servility…The soldiers feel they are fighting with savages, not with soldiers.”