Student welfare and safety concerns in Incheon

In Incheon, South Korea, reports have emerged regarding student welfare and safety. A police investigation is underway following a complaint by 18 parents against a 60-year-old contract teacher at an elementary school. The teacher is accused of child abuse, specifically alleging that second-grade students were coerced into self-inflicted physical punishment, such as striking their own heads. Other allegations include restricting bathroom access and forcing students to finish meals to the point of vomiting.

Separately, data from the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education highlights systemic challenges regarding student mental health. While approximately 1% of students are classified as being in a ‘suicide risk group,’ a significant majority are referred to counseling centers rather than receiving urgent psychiatric medical treatment. In 2023, only 27.3% of high-risk students were referred to medical facilities. Officials noted that between 2022 and September 2024, 70 students in Incheon died by suicide, with concerns rising that a lack of immediate psychiatric intervention contributes to such incidents.