2 days ago
South Korean teacher left with broken ribs after baseball bat attack in class
South Korean teachers' unions have called for stronger legal protections and harsher penalties after a shocking assault in which a middle school student in Suwon attacked a teacher with a baseball bat, fracturing the man's ribs during class.
The Gyeonggi Teachers' Union issued a statement on Wednesday, denouncing the incident as evidence that 'teacher authority has collapsed beyond repair'.
The union said it was especially alarming that the assault took place just five days after the teacher started at the school, and that it was sparked not by ongoing conflict but by dissatisfaction with a teaching method.
The incident occurred on May 30 at a middle school in Suwon, when a student attacked a male teacher in his 50s with a baseball bat, saying he was dissatisfied with the way the class was being conducted.
The teacher, who suffered broken ribs and other injuries, is currently receiving medical treatment. 'The fact that a student used a baseball bat to attack a teacher shows that schools are no longer safe for educators,' the union said, urging immediate action.
The union outlined a list of demands, including urgent medical and psychological support for the victim, a thorough investigation into the incident and the introduction of a school police officer system. It also called for legislation to impose tougher penalties for violence against teachers, similar to laws protecting medical personnel.
