Students at Geumgok High School in Busan take a mock College Scholastic Ability Test, March 24. Yonhap
As student violence against teachers and relentless parent complaints continue to make national headlines in Korea, a growing number of educators left with little practical recourse are turning to a last line of defense: insurance.
According to Hana Insurance, the country’s sole provider of teacher rights protection coverage, 9,312 educators have enrolled in policies designed to guard against risks ranging from sexual harassment and physical assault to abusive complaints from students and parents. The number marks more than a sixfold increase from 2018.
Although these policyholders account for just 1.8 percent of Korea’s 506,000 teachers from kindergarten to high school, the sharp rise signals that what was once a niche safeguard is steadily gaining broader relevance.
Claims are rising in tandem. Paid insurance cases jumped from just eight in 2018 to 168 in 2025, with 53 claims already approved this year as of this month.
The vast majority of claims — 81 percent — involved defamation, verbal abuse or refusal to comply with teachers’ disciplinary guidance. Sexual harassment and physical assault each made up 6 percent.
Members of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations hold a press conference in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, April 15, calling for stronger protections for educators' rights and authority in classrooms. Yonhap
A recent survey conducted by the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations ahead of Teachers’ Day, which falls on Friday, highlighted the deepening emotional toll on the profession. Nearly half of the respondents said their sense of professional pride had diminished over the past two years.
The federation said the findings reflect how “repeated violations of rights, malicious complaints and the looming threat of child abuse accusations have worn down teachers’ sense of dignity and job satisfaction.”
When asked what is driving increasing teacher attrition and discouraging new entrants to the profession, 28.9 percent pointed to indiscriminate child abuse allegations and persistent exposure to parent complaints.
Source: Korea Times News
