SBS Dateline | Painful Lessons

When footage of a primary school teacher assaulting a pupil was released on the internet earlier this year, it caused an uproar in South Korea.

It was the latest in a string of secretly-filmed videos that have exposed violent teachers and sparked debate about the use of corporal punishment.

South Korea has traditionally allowed corporal punishment for ‘educational’ purposes, but this recent incident has driven some officials to ban the practice outright.

Now many teachers and parents are fighting back - arguing that without corporal punishment, there will be chaos in the classroom.

WATCH - Video journalist Amos Roberts has been to South Korea to hear both sides of the debate - click to watch his report.

EXTRA - The videos have prompted lots of reaction over the rights and wrongs of corporal punishment in South Korea - read some of the blogs people have written on the subject.