Lee Joo-ho, the acting president and Minister of Education, said, "I believe that the value of school education and the role of teachers remain important in a rapidly changing society due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies."
The acting president noted on the 15th during a Teacher's Day ceremony held at the FKI Tower in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, "The government will continue to strive to create conditions for teachers to become the main actors in educational innovation, unleash their expertise and capabilities in the classroom, and foster societal empathy."
He also stated, "I feel a deep sense of sorrow and heavy responsibility regarding the fact that many teachers are losing their pride and morale due to recent infringements on educational activities and safety incidents in schools." He added, "We will ensure that a culture of respect and admiration for school education and teachers takes root throughout our society, allowing teachers to dedicate themselves to teaching with pride in their profession in a safe and happy environment."
On that day, the acting president and Vice Minister Oh Seok-hwan presented government awards to 233 individuals and ministerial citations to 2,968 individuals during the ceremony. The Chung-geun Medal of Honor was awarded to five individuals, including Baek Jeong-hee, the principal of Songpa Wirie Kindergarten in Seoul, for their contribution to the realization of early childhood integration (kindergarten-child care service integration), and Lee Gyu-bae, a teacher at Daegu Anil Elementary School, for voluntarily guiding maladjusted students and contributing to the establishment of a culture of instructional innovation.
Six individuals, including Na Ok-joo, the principal of Hanam Central Elementary School, who implemented "coexistence education" in schools in areas with a high concentration of multicultural students, were awarded the Nokjo Geunjeong Medal. Additionally, six individuals, including Park Hae-ran, an educational researcher at the Daejeon Institute of Education Science, who promoted data-driven educational policy research and contributed to educational innovation, were awarded the Okjo Geunjeong Medal.
Kang Joo-ho, the president of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA), remarked, "Although it is a meaningful Teacher's Day, I am overwhelmed with sorrow regarding the serious educational realities," and urged, "Please establish legal and institutional safety nets to enable teachers to fulfill their inherent roles with rights, autonomy, and accountability."