Introduction to Faculty Staff

Recently, Japan has experienced a declining interest in the teaching profession, making it increasingly difficult to secure a sufficient number of teachers. Consequently, teacher shortages have become a major social issue. Meanwhile, in neighboring South Korea, teaching remains a highly popular career choice among young people, despite the country facing similar challenges, such as heavy workloads and deteriorating working conditions. What accounts for this stark contrast between the two countries? One key factor is the presence of teachers’ organizations that actively work to protect teachers’ rights, together with a legal framework that supports their activities. My research examines how teachers’ organizations in South Korea have worked to protect teachers’ rights and explores how these efforts have become institutionalized.