A lawyer from the School Rights Protection Committee on 'True Education': "Violence is impossible; the law must be enforced strictly" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

With the success of the Netflix series 'True Education,' attention has turned to the School Rights Protection Bureau, but a letter from an actual deliberation committee member of the School Rights Protection Committee has drawn particular interest.

On the 11th, lawyer Jung Ji-woo, who is also a writer and cultural critic, shared her thoughts on 'True Education.'

Lawyer Jung Ji-woo stated, "In fact, I was not an inspector of the School Rights Protection Bureau, but a deliberation committee member of the School Rights Protection Committee. My role was to investigate students who committed infringements on teachers' rights and ultimately issue disciplinary measures. Typically, the committee included former teachers, police officers, and various other members, but I was the only lawyer. I did not specifically intend this, but within the committee, I was always considered part of the 'hardline' faction. As it happened, my main role became: 'All elements of the offense are acknowledged; this case should not be dismissed without going to court, as it warrants criminal punishment; it should not be resolved merely with school service.' "

Lawyer Jung added, "I have reviewed countless cases, but those that reach the School Rights Protection Committee outside the school are rarely 'one-day' incidents. Isolated or minor cases are handled within the school's 'Life Education Committee.' However, when the school's internal system cannot resolve the issue, teachers, unable to endure further, make a kind of support request to the external 'School Rights Protection Committee.' Typically, when meeting with teachers, they reveal that they have suffered severe mental anguish, undergone psychiatric counseling, and even taken antidepressant medication before bringing the case to the committee. They often express guilt over having sent the student to such a place. Yet, in reality, the measures taken by the School Rights Protection Committee are usually not severe. At most, they involve school service, community service, or special external education; in more serious cases, class transfer or school transfer may occur. However, in the cases I handled, a class transfer was never even proposed. In fact, I have advocated for school transfers in some cases, but they typically ended with community service. Nevertheless, what teachers generally wanted was 'at least something like that.' In other words, they hoped the student would 'at least realize they were wrong.'"

He continued, "From what teachers have told me, even submitting a case to the School Rights Protection Committee requires tremendous resolve. They worry: 'Am I being overly particular? Am I causing trouble for the school? If I give up on the student and expel them, have I failed as an educator?' Amid such concerns, they hesitate greatly even before receiving a single proper 'deliberation.' It often takes years for a student who caused trouble in various classes to reach this point due to one teacher's determination. Personally, I believe the School Rights Protection Committee system should be activated more. After all, corporal punishment, point deductions, and reprimands do not effectively educate, and the internal Life Education Committee has its limits. It would be better if students causing problems at school were more effectively connected with external institutional investors. To achieve this, vice principals and principals within schools must also be more proactive in protecting teachers' rights. Students reportedly become more cautious after being summoned 'outside the school' even once."

Continuing, Lawyer Jung stated, "Recently, the Netflix drama 'True Education' depicts fantasy violence education that transcends the Constitution, but such cases are rare in reality. Many incidents fall within the scope of education. What is crucial is close coordination between inside and outside the school. For students who suffer from school violence, there must be a system that encourages active reporting, ensures swift and thorough investigations, and imposes clear punishments. Similarly, there must be a system where teachers can actively utilize their rights to protect themselves and educate students without hesitation when dealing with students who infringe on teachers' rights. If such a system functions effectively in practice, many problems can be resolved even under the current framework."

Finally, he added, "If there was one regret regarding the committee, it was the lack of legal expertise. Although I was too busy to participate in all deliberations, most other members were education experts or parent representatives rather than legal professionals. Consequently, there were often moments when it was regrettable that legally clear distinctions could not be made. For instance, there was a student who shouted and cursed during deliberations; at the time, I was the only one who could clearly point out that such behavior could be prosecuted as defamation and insult. In our era, violence is not permissible, so the law must be strict. I hope for clear resolutions through law and systems."

With the popularity of 'True Education,' attention has focused on school violence and the School Rights Protection Bureau. The fact that a lawyer affiliated with the actual School Rights Protection Committee has shared on-the-ground stories has further heightened interest.

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*This content was translated by AI.