Seoul Education Office Receives Record High 20,000 Complaints

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education recorded a historic high of 20,024 complaints through the National Civil Service Call Center last year, underscoring the increasing administrative burden on the education sector. The number of complaints rose by 6% compared to the previous year and surged by 27.7% over the past two years. This contrasts with a general decrease in government-wide complaints during the same period. The ease with which anyone can file complaints is identified as a primary reason for the disproportionate volume directed at the education field.

Instances of complaint solicitation online have also occurred. Following the Dongduk Women's University incident in 2024, when students at a Seoul high school exhibited disruptive behavior, approximately 3,000 complaints were filed demanding thorough civic education and student guidance. Last September, residents dissatisfied with overcrowding at a school due to a rapid increase in the school-age population from an apartment reconstruction project filed about 900 complaints in a short period.

Once a complaint is filed, schools are compelled to respond. If teachers' time and passion are diverted to administrative tasks, it can lead to event cancellations, changes in homeroom teachers, and the resignation of young educators. According to the Enforcement Decree of the Civil Complaints Handling Act, the education office must respond to complaints within seven days unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The homeroom teacher for a 5th-grade class at Misansan Elementary School in Jeonju, Jeonbuk Province, changed six times in 2024. Parent A repeatedly reported the teacher for child abuse, citing reasons such as the teacher 'staring at the child.' After Song Uk-jin, former chairman of the Jeonbuk branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, took over as the homeroom teacher at Misansan Elementary, five child abuse reports, nine police call-outs, and around 40 complaints occurred in March 2024 alone. Teacher Song pointed out that the current reality makes it impossible to administer legitimate discipline when facing child abuse reports. The parents involved were ordered to complete special education and psychological counseling but failed to comply. The Jeonbuk Office of Education has filed criminal charges against the parents for obstructing official duties, false accusation, and defamation.