Elementary School Teacher in Seocho-gu, Seoul Takes Extreme Action... Claims of Harassment by Parents Spread

Education Office "Investigating Cause of Death"
Teachers Continue Mourning with Funeral Wreaths and More

It was recently revealed that on the 18th, a female teacher in her 20s at Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, took her own life on school grounds.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and education circles on the 20th, elementary school teacher A was found dead inside the school on the morning of the 18th. A school official discovered the body and reported it to the police. It is known that no students witnessed the scene as it was before school hours.

On the morning of the 20th, a citizen is paying tribute in front of an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Im Chunhan]

On the 19th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a statement saying, "The police are currently investigating the exact cause of the incident." It is reported that no suicide note was found at the scene inside the school.

The principal of Seoi Elementary School released a statement on the school’s website that morning, expressing, "All faculty and staff deeply mourn with heavy hearts." He added, "Although she was a newly appointed teacher as of March last year, she showed steadfast passion for her duties and was a dedicated teacher who arrived early in the morning to prepare sincerely for her students." He also refuted rumors circulating online about the cause of death. He explained that the deceased was assigned to her desired homeroom grade, and her responsibilities were related to 'NAIS authority management,' not 'school violence' tasks.

He further stated, "Since March 1, there has been no change in the homeroom teacher for her assigned class, and there have been no reports of school violence in that class this year," adding, "The teacher never visited the Education Support Office." He also denied the online rumors involving 'politician family connections' as untrue.

Teacher organizations and educators have called for a thorough investigation. The Teachers’ Labor Union Federation (Teachers’ Union) issued a statement demanding an unreserved investigation and inquiry by the education authorities and police. The Teachers’ Union plans to hold a press conference at 4 p.m. in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to urge the truth be uncovered. The Korea Federation of Teachers’ Associations (KFTA) will also hold a press conference at 2 p.m. in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Through a statement, KFTA called for a thorough investigation and vowed to respond vigorously to the National Assembly, Ministry of Education, and education offices.

From the morning of the day, condolence wreaths sent by elementary school teachers nationwide lined up in front of the school. Dozens of post-it notes with messages such as “We are truly sorry, senior teacher who has run the path of teaching for so long. We will make sure your death is not in vain” were attached to the school gate. Elementary school teachers gathered through teacher communities plan to hold a candlelight memorial ceremony in front of the school that afternoon.

※ If you or someone around you is experiencing difficult feelings such as depression or other hard-to-talk-about struggles, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling through the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1393, Mental Health Counseling 1577-0199, Lifeline 1588-9191, Youth Hotline 1388, the youth mobile counseling app 'Da Deureojul Gae,' or KakaoTalk.