Teacher’s Day on May 15.

 

It is Teacher’s Day on May 15 in Korea.  There is an old saying in Kore that goes like this : “Do not step on the shadows of your teachers.”  This old proverb shows how much respect we should have towards our teachers in the past.  Today, current as well as former students express their appreciation to their teachers on Teacher’s Day. Students usually pin red carnations on their teachers’ chests and sing a Song of Teacher’s Day, ‘Teacher’s Grace’.  Many schools have a shorter school day on the day for various celebrations.

 

Korean use the word 'seonsaengnim' in order to express respect for the teacher.  'Seonsaeng' is an honorific title for a person who teaches students.  'Nim’ is a word used to express respect for the other person.  The word of 'seonsaengnim' is made of ‘honorific title plus honorific title’.

 

The bills currently widely used in Korea are four types : 1,000 won, 5,000 won, 10,000 won, 50,000 won.  1,000 won bill has a portrait of Toegye seonsaeng.  5,000 won bill has a portrait of Yulgok seonsaeng.  10,000 won bill has a portrait of King Sejong the Great.  50,000 won bill has a portrait of Sinsaimdang who was mother of Yulgok seonsaeng.

  

Both Toegye seonsaeng and Yulgok seonsaeng were great teachers who taught many disciples in Joseon Dynasty, which was from 1392 to 1910 in Korea.  Until now, the last hundred years, they are getting the respect from the people.  King Sejong the Great is the king who created the Korean alphabet ‘Hangul’ for people to make it easier to read and write letters.  Korean respect King Sejong the Great not only as a good king but also as a good teacher for all his people, all Korean.  Teacher's Day is the right day King Sejong the Great was born .

 

Korea used to be a poor country, having few natural resources.  There are a lot of people saying that Korea was able to achieve rapid economic growth thanks to the cultural climate that respects ​​education.  However, nowadays, respect for teachers is getting weaker.

 

(Cited in a letter to Olivia.)