Three images from video clip of a teacher beating two students with a bamboo sword.

In the 38-second video clip, a teacher is seen striking the hips of two students in a push-up position with the sword. When one student stands up, unable to endure the beating, the teacher follows him to strike his back.

The clip, recorded by a student with a mobile phone, has spread on the Internet. Netizens have voiced their outrage in message boards, saying the punishment was extreme.

"This is violence, not punishment," wrote a netizen. "The teacher's actions require criminal punishment."

But another said, "If a teacher can guide students better with corporal punishment, the teacher deserves praise rather than criticism."

The school, in Jeonju city in North Jeolla Province, said, "The two students often miss class without advance notification. The teacher spoke to them and the students promised not to skip class again but they didn't keep their word. The teacher punished them because they skipped class the previous afternoon, although it seems extreme."

The principal of the school said, "The teacher apologized to the two students who were punished and the other students in the class. I am sorry for causing controversy and I have given the teacher a warning."

(englishnews@chosun.com )