Abuse of Power by Principal in Gimhae? ... Gyeongnam Teachers' Union Urges Provincial Office of Education to Intervene

Following the recent controversy over abuse of power by a principal at an elementary school in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, similar allegations have been raised in the Gimhae area.

The Gyeongnam Teachers' Union held a press conference on the 22nd at the provincial education office briefing room, stating, "A union member teacher at an elementary school in Gimhae has been subjected to abuse of power by the principal for over two months," and claimed, "This is a longer period of managerial tyranny than that of the principal at an elementary school in Yangsan."

Lee Choong-su, chairman of the Gyeongnam Teachers' Union, is explaining the situation of a teacher who suffered from power harassment.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Teachers' Union]

The teachers' union said, "The affected teacher sent thank-you messages to teachers who participated in the nationwide teachers' rally related to the death of a teacher at Seoi Elementary School on September 4, the Day of Stopping Public Education," and added, "The principal publicly insulted the affected teacher by sending a statement to all staff, calling the teacher disrespectful for 'backstabbing'."

They continued, "The affected teacher usually had a good relationship with the principal and did not want the issue to escalate, so they requested a conversation via messenger over the weekend, but the principal refused to talk citing the weekend," and "The affected teacher immediately apologized."

"Afterwards, the principal ordered the affected teacher to write a report regarding the events of September 4, and the teacher, hurt by the principal's words and attitude, applied for sick leave," they added.

Lee Choong-soo, the union chairman, said, "After receiving the affected teacher's report, we requested a conversation with the principal, but the principal refused," and "The principal also claimed that nowadays teachers report abuse of power even when they are just a little tired or unwilling."

The teachers' union urged the provincial education office to conduct ▲ a full investigation of the affected teachers at the school ▲ separation measures from the principal ▲ suspension of the principal ▲ an audit prioritizing victim protection ▲ and strict punishment if abuse of power by the principal is confirmed.

They also requested that Superintendent Park Jong-hoon personally respond to these demands by the 27th.

The principal of the school reportedly denied the allegations in an interview with a media outlet, stating, "The facts have not been properly verified and it is not true."