Why Do Korean Students Clean Their Schools? A Look at a Cultural Scene from [When Life Gives You Tangerines]

 In Episode 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines (폭싹 속았수다), there’s a brief moment when students are seen wiping down the hallway windows as Ae-soon’s mother walks through the school. This fleeting scene may be easy to overlook, but it reveals a long-standing tradition in Korean education: students cleaning their own schools.

Why Did Students Clean the School Themselves?

For decades, Korean schools didn’t hire janitors or cleaning staff. Instead, students were responsible for tidying their classrooms, hallways, and restrooms. This practice was rooted in the belief that:

- Cleaning teaches responsibility and discipline

- It builds a sense of community and teamwork

- Students learn to respect their shared environment

    This tradition was influenced by broader East Asian values, and is still found in countries like Japan and Taiwan today.

Is It Still Practiced in Korea?

 While many viewers may assume that student-led cleaning is a thing of the past, the truth is more complex.

 In Korea, some students are still cleaning their classrooms. However, this tradition has gradually changed over the years due to shifting attitudes and evolving education policies.

 The move away from student-led cleaning began in the early 2000s, when some schools started hiring professional staff to clean restrooms - spaces that were previously assigned to students. 

 In 2018, The Seoul Teachers’ Union pushed for increased cleaning budgets. This led to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education allocating cleaning funds for spaces like auditoriums. Still, the coverage remained limited, and students continued to clean most of the school environment.

 In 2021, The National Human Rights Commission of Korea formally recommended that students should not be made to clean staff-only areas, such as teacher lounges or administrative offices, framing the issue as a matter of student rights.

 Today, while many schools have started outsourcing cleaning services or hiring more custodial staff, some schools still rely on students to maintain daily cleanliness in their learning environments.

 In short, the tradition hasn't disappeared completely. Rather, it's going through a gradual transformation, reflecting a balance between cultural values and modern educational standards.

Final Thoughts

 What may seem like a minor detail in a drama reveals a much deeper story about Korean culture and education. Student-led cleaning might feel unfamiliar to many global viewers, but it’s a tradition that helped shape generations of Koreans.