Coverage begins at the reporting stage of education rights violations — an industry first

Plan reflects job-specific risks including mental health, vacation-period injuries and occupational ailments

[Hanwha General Insurance]
[Hanwha General Insurance]

Hanwha General Insurance announced Monday the launch of a dedicated insurance plan for school staff, a product designed with the education sector's predominantly female workforce in mind. With women making up roughly 80 percent of all school employees nationwide, the insurer drew on its expertise in women's insurance to build a coverage framework addressing physical, mental, legal and social risks that arise on the job.

Development of the product incorporated direct feedback from the field. Hanwha General Insurance signed an MOU with the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations and conducted interviews with school staff across various settings to identify coverage needs tied to the profession's unique characteristics and life cycle.

The plan covers violations of teachers' educational rights and the legal costs that follow. A special rider for educational-activity infringement pays out from the moment a staff member files a complaint with the district education office — the earliest stage of the process — marking an industry first. If the school rights protection committee subsequently confirms that an educational-activity infringement occurred, the rider pays up to 3.9 million won ($2,920). Additional riders cover attorney fees for criminal child-abuse litigation and for teacher appeals, easing the financial burden of work-related legal proceedings.

The plan also provides access to "My Lawyer," a legal consultation service operated in partnership with the Korean Bar Association. Through a dedicated website, staff can obtain guidance on how to respond to legal risks such as teacher appeals and child-abuse allegations, and consult directly with specialist attorneys.

Mental health coverage tied to occupational stress is also included. A rider for stress-related psychiatric conditions pays up to 3 million won upon diagnosis of depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or similar conditions, with additional benefits available if the policyholder undergoes drug treatment after diagnosis.

The plan also accounts for the school vacation calendar, a feature unique to the profession. Accidents occurring in January, February, July and August — the months that correspond to school breaks — are covered under riders for vacation-period injury with sequelae, vacation-period fracture diagnosis and vacation-period burn diagnosis. Occupational ailments common among school staff, including vocal nodules, dry eye syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome, are covered under a rider for specific lifestyle-disease surgery and hospitalization costs.

The plan is open to teachers, professors and administrative staff at public and private schools nationwide. It is available as an add-on when purchasing Hanwha General Insurance's Signature Women's Health Insurance or Hanaarum Comprehensive Insurance products.

Meanwhile, the product is a follow-up to an MOU on "strengthening teacher rights protection and social safety nets" that Hanwha General Insurance signed with the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations in May on Teachers' Day. That agreement was established to jointly develop solutions addressing the various risks and occupational stresses teachers face in the classroom, with the aim of fostering a sustainable public education environment.


won@heraldcorp.com