Sejong City Terminates Contract of Temporary Teacher Who Referred to "General Kim Il-sung"

Exterior view of Sejong City Office of Education building

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] A temporary teacher at a middle school in Sejong City referred to North Korean leader Kim Il-sung as "General Kim Il-sung" during class, prompting the Sejong City Office of Education to launch an investigation.

The Sejong City Office of Education announced on the 7th that it has decided to terminate the contract of the temporary teacher A (in their 40s) who made the remark. According to the education office, A stated during a middle school science class in March, "Besides the battles of Bongodong and Cheongsanri, where the independence army won during the Japanese colonial period, there is one more battle. The reason this battle is not in the textbooks is because it was led by General Kim Il-sung."

Furthermore, A reportedly made historically unverified statements such as, "The United States wanted to make our country a colony and did not recognize the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea," and "Rhee Syngman, who was very power-hungry, was tempted by the U.S. saying he could become president and returned to Seoul."

The Sejong City Office of Education clarified, "A is a substitute temporary teacher dispatched from the School Education Support Center, not a regular teacher." The School Education Support Center provides temporary teachers for short periods upon school requests.

The education office's audit authorities conducted an investigation involving A and the students who attended the class. The audit revealed that A claimed the "General Kim Il-sung" remark was true but added the premise "from the North Korean side."

The education office judged that A violated the duty to maintain sincerity and dignity by making politically and historically biased remarks. Although A's contract period is from March this year to February next year, A has been excluded from classes and the contract termination process is underway.