More teachers turn to insurance for protection amid surge in assaults, parent complaints

As student violence against teachers and relentless parent complaints continue to make national headlines in Korea, a growing number of educators left with little practical recourse are turning to a last line of defense: insurance. According to Hana Insurance, the country’s sole provider of teacher rights protection coverage, 9,312 educators have enrolled in policies designed to guard against risks ranging from sexual harassment and physical assault to abusive complaints from students and parents. The number marks more than a sixfold increase from 2018. Although these policyholders account for just 1.8 percent of Korea’s 506,000 teachers from kindergarten to high school, the sharp rise signals that what was once a niche safeguard is steadily gaining broader relevance. Claims are rising in tandem. Paid insurance cases jumped from just eight in 2018 to 168 in 2025, with 53 claims already approved this year as of this month. The vast majority of claims — 81 percent — involved defamation, verbal abuse or refusal to comply with teachers’ disciplinary guidance. Sexual harassment and