"Don't speak informally to adults. Don't run in the hallways. School violence ruins lives. Parents should not commit gapjil against teachers. Using power or money to manipulate grades or school records will land you in handcuffs. Teachers must carry a sense of vocation, moral integrity, and competence — and educate students sincerely and properly."
A recent drama series tackling the protection of teachers' rights and the normalization of school environments goes too far in some of its depictions and solutions, yet it has resonated with the public by showing students shielded from school violence, teachers protected from abusive parents, and corruption and parental favoritism met with swift punishment.
While real life will not mirror the drama, Gangwon Province is creating a new role dedicated to mediating and resolving conflicts in schools.
The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education will accept open applications for "companion support officers for the protection of educational activities" from Monday through Nov. 20.
The companion support officers will visit schools where violations of educational activities have occurred, mediate conflicts on-site, and help affected teachers recover. The position is part of a Gangwon-style model for protecting educational activities, launched in response to field-support demands following the establishment of the Teachers' Rights Protection Support Group under Superintendent Kang Sam-young.
The recruitment targets Gangwon Province residents and local teachers with expertise in conflict and dispute resolution and teachers' rights protection, as well as specialists in law, counseling, administration and medicine. About 100 positions are available.
Officers will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2027. Their duties will include interviewing parties involved in violations of educational activities and analyzing conflicts; running dispute-mediation sessions and facilitated dialogue; proposing settlement measures such as reconciliation, apologies and commitments to prevent recurrence; providing tailored recovery support and follow-up monitoring for affected teachers; conducting educational-activity protection sessions for students and parents; and offering initial consultations and response consulting for unusual complaints.
Applicants should submit an application form, a personal statement and other required documents in person, by mail or by email. Final selections will be announced individually on Dec. 4 following a document review. Further details are available through the official notice on the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education website.
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