Ministry of Education

On December 7, the Ministry of Education (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-Ho), the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Minister Lee Sang-min), and the National Police Agency (Commissioner General Yoon hee-geun) announced a joint plan to improve the school violence case handling system and enhance the role of school police officers (SPOs). Previously, teachers at schools were solely responsible for investigating school violence cases, facing numerous challenges such as malicious complaints and parental intimidation. This burden hampered their ability to focus on their primary duties of teaching and providing life guidance, leading to criticism that schools weren’t fulfilling their educational essence. Recognizing these challenges, teachers at a meeting with the President on October 6 requested the externalization of school violence investigation. In response, the President mandated consultations between relevant organizations such as the Ministry of Education and the National Police Agency, which has led to this plan. The plan focuses on two key areas: improving the overall school violence case handling system and strengthening the role of SPOs..(December 7, 2023, Seoul Government Complex)