코로나19 탓에 제자들 없는 텅 빈 학교...영상으로 "선생님 사랑해요"

Today is Teachers' Day in Korea which means... teachers are drowned in flowers and small gifts as students from years ago pay a visit to their mentors to express their gratitude.
With distancing in place due to the pandemic, COVID-19 has even changed the way Teachers' Day is celebrated in this country. Students, however, did manage to get their message of appreciation delievered, though.
Kim Sung-min reports.
Elementary school teacher Shin Seung-hee is sitting in an empty classroom, recording a video for her online classes.
She asks questions, but there are no students there to answer them.
The school semester has been further delayed due to the recent cluster infection of COVID-19 from Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood.
"Does it look the same or is there a difference? (...) Okay."
Teachers haven't even met their students face-to-face yet.
"Although I haven't had the chance to get to know you guys..., I hope you can resume your normal daily routines."
The students' absence is more noticeable than ever as South Korea celebrates Teachers' Day on May 15th.
A small computer screen is not enough to get close to students.
" It used to be a huge pleasure to receive letters and drawings from my students..., so I feel so sad."
A teacher about to start her first year teaching cannot wait to meet her first students.
"I try my best to do what I can at the moment so I can be more helpful for my students later on."
However, even the COVID-19 outbreak couldn't stop students from showing their appreciation to their teachers.
During livestreamed online classes, students prepared special events.
They made love heart gestures over the screen, and each student wrote down one letter on the paper to spell out the message "I love you teacher, Thank you for taking care of us."
Most people did not get to celebrate the day face-to-face, but still many of them enjoyed the day in this unique way..., while waiting to finally meet each other for the first time.
Kim Sung-min, Arirang News.