The previous rules have placed a considerable burden on Korea's penal system, with many teachers serving sentences of more than five years absconding after exercising their legal right to return to their jobs on day-release from prison.
Kim, a 42 year old physical education instructor at a school in Seoul, said he was saddened by the move. "I'm not interested in sexually abusing children but I do like hitting them with chairs" he told us. Kim complained that the new law ignores his mental well-being; twenty years ago his court-appointed anger-management therapist recommended that a career in teaching would provide the most supportive environment for his random bouts of severe rage and desire to bully those weaker than himself, and he would also benefit from the camaraderie of like-minded people. However, Kim said that he welcomed the delayed imposition of the new law, which at least gave him a few days "to settle some scores" with his students.
Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous due to society's 'misunderstanding' of his hobby of molesting children, said he intended to use the remainder of March to get his hands on a couple of girls, "After that I should be good for a couple of weeks" he said, "but then I don't know what I'll do."
KASA - the Korean Association of Sex Attackers - which represents a large number of pedophiles in South Korea and which has fought numerous legal cases on their behalf for greater legal recognition for the activity, said the new law was probably open to legal challenge since it conflicted with the right for adults to have sex with children over the age of 13. "If a teacher has sex with a 13 year old girl – can they be prevented from remaining a teacher, if a politician who did the same thing would be allowed to keep their job?" KASA is recommending that its members stop engaging in sexual activities with children who are 12 or younger until the legal situation can be clarified. The politician concerned has declined to comment.
The little-discussed right to physically and sexually assault children is so ingrained in society that the new law actually required a Constitutional amendment, even though officially the only pedophiles in Korea are foreign English teachers. But now the amendment has been passed a Ministry official said that from April convicted pedophile teachers will not be able to teach at schools again, even if they say they're sorry or provide receipts for alcohol purchases.
Korea’s hagwon industry has said it welcomes the new law as it is expected to provide them with an influx of new recruits at their private education facilities, which are not covered by the new law, and which are where most foreigners teach.
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