Why Are Save the Children Facing a Flood of Sponsorship Cancellations After the Death of a Teacher in Daejeon?

Judgment of 'Emotional Abuse' on Deceased Teacher

The international child rights organization Save the Children has recently come under heavy public criticism after it was revealed that they sent a statement to an elementary school teacher in Daejeon, who had taken their own life, accusing them of ‘emotionally abusing (students)’ during their lifetime.

The teacher was accused of child abuse by a parent in 2019. Although the education office supervisor’s investigation concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing, Save the Children judged the case as ‘emotional abuse’ and the matter was forwarded to the police station.

On the afternoon of the 9th, students and parents visited a memorial space set up at an elementary school in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where an elementary school teacher who passed away due to malicious complaints was employed, to pay their respects to the deceased.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The teacher underwent police and prosecution investigations before finally being cleared of all charges. It was a battle they had to endure alone for a full 10 months.

In relation to this, the teacher personally submitted their case in July to the elementary school teachers’ union’s call for reports on violations of teachers’ rights.

They stated, "I experienced the absurd decision of the child abuse investigation agency (Save the Children). They had no knowledge of the educational environment and made no effort to understand it," adding, "I sought psychiatric treatment over three years to comfort myself, but after seeing the case of the Seoicho teacher again, fear resurfaced and I just kept crying."

After this fact became public, Save the Children has faced severe backlash. Movements to stop supporting Save the Children are spreading, especially within parenting communities.

Teachers are reacting similarly. A representative from the Daejeon Teachers’ Union said, "Many teachers who supported this child-related organization are now canceling their donations," and added, "There is also a movement to refuse cooperation with Save the Children’s educational and event requests."

Save the Children has stated they are "preparing a position statement" but have not disclosed specific details about their involvement in the case.

The teacher, in their 40s with over 20 years of teaching experience, was found unconscious at their home in Yuseong-gu on the 5th after an attempted suicide. They were transported to the hospital but passed away around 6 p.m. on the 7th, two days later.

According to the Daejeon Teachers’ Union, the teacher had been working at an elementary school in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, in 2019 and had been subjected to years of malicious complaints from parents after sending a student who assaulted a friend to the principal’s office. In 2020, they were even falsely accused of child abuse. Although they transferred to another elementary school this year, they reportedly continued to suffer from trauma (post-traumatic stress disorder).