Sei Elementary School Teacher's Bereaved Family "Disappointed by Ministry of Education Announcement... Merely a Reconfirmation of Existing Information"

Seoul Teachers' Union and Others Also Criticize "Yongdusa-mi Investigation"

The Ministry of Education and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the joint investigation results on the teacher's death incident at Seocho-gu Seoi Elementary School on the 4th, while the bereaved family expressed disappointment, saying the findings only reaffirmed previously known facts.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the deceased teacher's maternal uncle stated to the media on the day, "(The announcement) contains no new information and is somewhat disappointing as it only reconfirms what was already known."

He added, "However, it was again confirmed that the deceased had faced many difficulties in guiding students due to problematic behavior from certain students and their parents, and especially after the 'pencil incident,' he was plagued by complaints from those parents."

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, is holding a briefing on the joint investigation results by the Ministry of Education and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education regarding the Seoicho Elementary School teacher incident at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 4th. 2023.8.4 [Photo by Yonhap News]

Teacher organizations also expressed disappointment with the joint investigation results. The Seoul Teachers' Union issued a statement on the day, pointing out, "There is not a single new fact beyond what has already been reported through various channels, and the conclusion shifts responsibility to the police investigation."

The National Elementary School Teachers' Union also stated in a press release, "The announcement today lacks investigation into the principal's omission of duty (failure to perform required tasks) and the malicious complaints from parents, which are the core issues in this case," adding, "Vice Minister Jang Sang-yoon of the Ministry of Education said that since the Ministry is an administrative agency, unlike the police, there are limits to investigating parents, but the obligation to investigate should naturally lie with the education authorities."

The Ministry of Education and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education formed a joint investigation team to uncover the truth following the death of the Seoi Elementary School teacher and announced the results of their investigation, which began on the 24th of last month targeting teachers and others, on this day.

The investigation team confirmed that the deceased had difficulties in student guidance due to problematic students and was burdened with end-of-term duties. However, whether the deceased was subjected to verbal abuse or malicious complaints from parents requires police investigation, they stated.