Teachers washed their students’ feet at a Seoul high school on May 14, a day before Teachers’ Day to thank students for respecting them…

Korean teachers wash students feet before teachers day
Korean teachers showing love (Image from Korea.net)

The foot washing ceremony is derived from the Christianity’s Maundy Thursday where Jesus Christ washed the feet of his twelve apostles to express his love before the last supper. [Asianoffbeat]


11 Responses to “Korean teachers washed students’ feet”

  1. #1. Emilie on May 18th, 2008

    That’s something i’ll never hear about in the US. Most students here don’t have any respect for their teacher; very disrespectful.
    It would be so weird to have your teacher wash your feet though.

  2. #2. Yein Jee on May 18th, 2008

    That’s something we rarely heard around the world isn’t it?

    Well, if Jesus was doing it… it doesn’t seem that bizarre for commoners to follow the practise as well. However, I would be laughing my ass off if my teachers were to wash my feet when I was a student… it’s just so unimaginable.

  3. #3. kyon on May 19th, 2008

    i should send this article to my teacher :p

  4. #4. bb on May 19th, 2008

    how can they find so many teachers? lol
    i think that teachers should be respected, so why do they have to thank the students for respecting them?
    although there are good teachers, there are also bad teachers.
    either way, i feel that washing someone’s feet is something that’s quite close.
    i would totally feel weird if i got my feet washed by a teacher.
    i would only do that for my husband, and maybe parents if i have to.

  5. #5. Yein Jee on May 19th, 2008

    kyon… and your teacher will probably send you to Korea instead.

    bb… ya, the practice is obviously not part of the culture in many places.

  6. #6. SilverIsle on May 19th, 2008

    Wow. Thanks for sharing. Totally didn’t know such thing exists.

  7. #7. QuaChee on May 20th, 2008

    wow, that is quite interesting. i would have thot the reverse :)

  8. #8. Hmm on May 23rd, 2008

    Man…I’ve been super respectful of all my professors in the past, but I still wouldn’t want them to touch my feet…it’s just weird maaan. Yuck. Well I’m from the USA (if you didn’t know already..heheh)…plus parents would complain…I know someone is going to claim sexual harassment or something like that. Teachers are not allowed to lay their fingers on a student (even if it’s not malicious act). Feet washing is too intimate and private affair…One either washes their own feet during a shower or go to a spa to get it done. And like I said, it would be totally weird here. Yeah..as Yein Jee mentioned, feet washing is not common in many cultures.

  9. #9. Yein Jee on May 23rd, 2008

    Hmm… sexual harassment is a bit over especially if it’s done in public. That raise a point though… some of the teachers might actually enjoy washing the feet of their students.

  10. #10. Darren on December 17th, 2008

    You guys are missing the important part, that this is the day before Teacher’s Day, when Korean parents give teachers gifts (usually money). Respect has little to do with this. It’s buttering up the families so they give with the cash.

  11. #11. juvy krystal gacita on November 19th, 2009

    it’s quite weird….in our country we respect our teachers but washing the feet of your students is not okey for me!!!!


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