"My Child Has the King's DNA"... Ministry of Education Launches Investigation into Harassment by Homeroom Teacher Against Official's Child

Suspended Homeroom Teacher for Power Abuse
"They Understand Even When Spoken Nicely"
Sent Letter with Child Guidance Rules to Homeroom Teacher

A Grade 5 official from the Ministry of Education was reported to have filed a child abuse complaint against the homeroom teacher of their elementary school child, resulting in the teacher’s suspension. The official reportedly told the teacher things like, "Since the child has the DNA of a king, they understand everything even if you speak indirectly as if talking to a prince." As the controversy spread, the Ministry of Education requested the official’s suspension and launched a related investigation.

According to the National Elementary School Teachers’ Union on the 11th, an official named A, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, reported a teacher named B at an elementary school in Sejong for child abuse at the end of last year. B was immediately suspended. The union stated that A used their position as a Ministry official to threaten B by saying, "I can change the homeroom teacher." It was also reported that A called B several times late at night and mentioned that the homeroom teacher was changed when their child was in the second grade due to their own complaint.

In a letter from A to B outlining the rules to follow when guiding the child, requests included: "Never say prohibitive words like ‘Don’t’ or ‘No’," "Thoroughly take sides when conflicts arise among peers," and "If you confine the child with the burden of having to greet properly, their self-esteem will be severely damaged." The letter also contained unreasonable content such as, "Because the child has the DNA of a king, they understand everything even if you speak indirectly as if talking to a prince."

On the afternoon of the 9th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho attended a meeting on improving the child abuse system held in the conference room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he delivered a speech related to strengthening teachers' authority. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

In May of this year, B was cleared of child abuse charges by the Daejeon District Prosecutor’s Office. B received psychiatric counseling and took medication for depression but reportedly returned to work in June. The school held a Teacher’s Rights Protection Committee meeting and judged A’s actions as a clear violation of teacher rights. The school ordered A to submit a written apology and a pledge to prevent recurrence. It is known that the letter A sent to B was used as evidence in the committee. Five parents also submitted statements of support for B.

However, the union stated that A has not complied with the committee’s disciplinary measures. The Ministry of Education issued a statement regarding the matter, saying, "An investigation team has been formed and an immediate investigation has begun," and "The investigation target’s current workplace, the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, has been notified to start an investigation and a request for suspension has been made."