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Over the past five years, Korea has seen a troubling trend of teachers leaving their positions before retirement age, with over 32,000 educators departing. This trend has persisted into the current year, with more than 3,300 teachers already having left their posts.

A recent report by National Assembly Education Committee member Rep. Jung Sung-kook of the ruling People Power Party, based on data from the Ministry of Education, reveals that the number of teachers resigning before their official retirement has increased significantly. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 32,704 national and public elementary, middle, and high school teachers left their positions. Resignations have increased significantly, rising from 5,937 in 2019 to 7,404 in 2023.

The increase in voluntary resignations, which allows teachers to leave regardless of their years of service, highlights growing dissatisfaction within the profession. The number of teachers choosing voluntary resignation rose from 690 in 2021 to 924 in 2023. Concurrently, honorary retirements — allowing teachers with over 20 years of service to retire early — also increased, from 5,242 in 2021 to 6,480 in 2023.

Recent data shows that between March and August of this year, 3,367 teachers left their positions, with 2,614 opting for honorary retirement and 753 resigning voluntarily. If current trends persist, the number of honorary retirements may decline, while voluntary resignations could rise to around 1,500.

Experts attribute the rising departure rates to several factors, including declining respect for the teaching profession, difficulties in student management, and inadequate compensation. Additionally, young teachers with fewer than ten years of experience are increasingly leaving the profession. Data from the education ministry reveals that 576 teachers with under ten years of service resigned between March of the previous year and February of this year, up from 448 in 2020.

A survey conducted by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) in August found that 86 percent of educators in their 20s and 30s have considered leaving the profession due to dissatisfaction with their salaries.

"The persistent rise in voluntary resignations and the increase in early retirements highlight a critical problem," Jung said. "The government must take immediate and effective action to address the challenges of student management, undermined teaching authority, and low compensation in order to retain talented educators."

In July of last year, an incident at Seoul Seoi Elementary School drew significant attention to the mistreatment and rights of teachers. A teacher died by suicide, reportedly due to stress from numerous parent complaints suspected to be malicious. The police concluded their investigation in November, finding no grounds for criminal charges against those involved. Despite this, the incident triggered weeks of nationwide protests by teachers, highlighting issues with their treatment and raising concerns about teaching authority and challenges in student management.