Government proposes the 'Haneul Act' which implements mandatory leave for teachers with mental illness

The South Korean government is pushing for the so-called 'Haneul Act,' which would allow authorities to place teachers on mandatory leave if they are deemed unfit to perform their duties due to mental illness or other conditions.

At a meeting with regional education superintendents on February 12, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju Ho stated, “The Ministry of Education and local education offices recognize the severity of this issue and will establish fundamental measures to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again.”

He further announced, “We will push for the revision of laws to introduce the 'Haneul Act,' which will enable the government to place teachers on mandatory leave if they are deemed unfit for teaching due to mental illness or other issues, following a specific procedure.”

This meeting was convened in response to the tragic incident on February 10, when a first-grade student named Kim Ha Neul was fatally attacked by a teacher wielding a knife at an elementary school in Daejeon.

Both ruling and opposition parties have also signaled their intent to introduce the Haneul Act.

The ruling People Power Party announced that it would hold a government-party consultation meeting to discuss preventive measures. Policy Committee Chair Kim Sang Hoon emphasized, “There is a growing demand for legal revisions to ensure the immediate removal of teachers with potential mental health issues from the classroom.”

Jin Sung Joon, the Policy Committee Chair of the opposition Democratic Party, expressed his support on Facebook, writing, “Haneul’s father has requested that we include the phrase ‘Haneul, go to the prettiest star’ in his tribute message. My heart aches. We will swiftly pass the 'Haneul Act' as requested by the bereaved parents.” 

Minister Lee also stated, “We will make it mandatory to assess a teacher’s ability to resume normal duties before reinstatement and implement measures for emergency intervention when a teacher exhibits violent or abnormal behavior.”

Recognizing concerns among parents ahead of the new school semester, he reassured them, saying, “We will thoroughly inspect student safety, control external access to schools, enhance on-campus security, and improve safety management in after-school programs.”

Furthermore, he pledged a thorough investigation into the incident, vowing to hold those responsible accountable while prioritizing support for the victim’s family and the psychological well-being of students and faculty.

The president of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents, Kang Eun Hee, stated, “We will conduct a comprehensive review of school safety management, especially during after-school hours, to address potential blind spots.”

Kang Eun Hee also pointed out issues with the current system, where each education office operates a Teacher Review Committee to assess whether teachers with mental or physical illnesses can continue their duties. However, she acknowledged that these committees often fail to function effectively. She said, “We need a stronger mental health screening system for teachers. Additionally, we will review teacher leave policies and personnel management to ensure continuous improvements based on expert and field opinions.”

According to the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, the perpetrating teacher, identified as Ms. Myung, had repeatedly taken medical leave and official leave due to mental illness. Prior to the incident, she had been on a six-month leave but returned to work after just 20 days with a medical certificate stating she was fit for duty.

Reports also revealed that Ms. Myung had exhibited alarming behavior, including damaging school computers and assaulting a fellow teacher just days before the attack. However, education authorities failed to take any preventive measures.

Moreover, the Teacher Review Committee, which is responsible for assessing whether teachers with mental or physical conditions can continue teaching, did not convene in this case, despite the apparent warning signs.