EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY TEACHERS IN SOUTH KOREA: CAUSES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Authors: Dr. Se-Ho Jang, Min-Ji Jang, Soo-Young Jeong, Dr. Mi-Kyeong Jung, Dr. Kang-Hyun Kim, Dr. Moo-Jin Jeong & *Dr. Jun-Ki Chung

ABSTRACT

South Korea’s remarkable economic growth and its profound cultural influence, particularly through the global phenomenon of Hallyu (the Korean Wave), have undoubtedly astounded the world. However, beneath this outward success lies a shadow of societal issues that impact the nation. The ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor, along with rampant school violence, have reached a point where they can no longer be ignored or left unaddressed. This paper focuses specifically on one of the most devastating consequences of this cultural backdrop: the suicides of teachers. It aims to investigate the underlying causes of these suicides and to propose potential solutions. Among the solutions, one of the most critical issues is how individual teachers, the victims of these circumstances, can overcome the temptation of suicide. To address this, the paper argues that Viktor Frankl’s concept of logo-therapy, which emphasizes finding meaning in suffering, offers a significant and valuable approach to help teachers reclaim a sense of purpose and hope amidst their struggles.

Keywords: Korea, logo-therapy, school violence, suicide, teacher, Viktor Frankl

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