A post claiming that someone reported a teacher under the Kim Young-ran Act (Improper Solicitation and Graft Act) for uploading to the teacher's social media (SNS) a post about receiving a snack from a student during vacation is stirring controversy.
On the 19th, an online community carried a post titled "Filing a complaint against a teacher who took a bribe during vacation." The poster said, "I found this while looking through teachers' posts," and shared a capture of a teacher's SNS post.
The teacher posted on the teacher's SNS a photo of taking a bite of a "Dubai jjondeuk cookie" received from a student, along with the caption, "It's vacation, but precious 00 came to the shabby teachers' office and tossed over a Dubai jjondeuk cookie."
The poster took issue with this, saying, "Is it really legal for a homeroom teacher to be visited by a student during vacation and be given a snack?" and attached provisions of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The poster noted, "I immediately filed a complaint with the South Jeolla Provincial Office of Education."
Under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, gifts provided by an enrolled student to a teacher are, in principle, prohibited regardless of amount. However, if job-relatedness has completely ended due to graduation, they may be exceptionally allowed within the bounds of social norms.
Online reactions were divided. Some said, "Can't you even give that much between teacher and student?" and "It was just a snack shared because the student liked the teacher," arguing the report itself was excessive. Others criticized, saying, "The teacher was careless," "No matter how small the amount, it's right not to give or receive," and "Posting it on SNS while mentioning the student's name was inappropriate."