The Disobeying Teachers

The Disobeying Teachers (Korean: 명령불복종 교사) is a 2015 South Korean documentary film directed by Seo Dong-Il. The film explores the professional and personal consequences faced by educators who challenged government-mandated testing policies.

Background

In October 2008, the South Korean government scheduled a national achievement test for students in the 6th grade of elementary school, 3rd grade of middle school, and 1st grade of high school. In response, several teachers distributed letters to parents expressing concerns regarding the potential negative impact of these standardized assessments on students.

The teachers informed parents that they could opt for their children to participate in alternative field studies instead of taking the national test. Following these actions, the involved educators were issued dismissal notices by school authorities.

Production and Release

The documentary was produced and directed by Seo Dong-Il, who also served as the cinematographer. The film has a runtime of 96 minutes and was distributed by Indie Plug. It was officially released in South Korea on May 14, 2015.