Star Lecturer Who Threatened to "Force Resignation from Teaching" as College Exam Supervisor Apologizes Amid Controversy

"Disclosed Lawyer Status to Explain Legal Terms"
Denies 'Illegal Identification of Teacher's Workplace and Child's Misconduct'

A parent of a 'star instructor,' who reportedly protested and verbally abused a proctor at the school after their child was caught cheating on the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has apologized to the teacher involved.

Attorney A, a well-known star instructor at a major police academy, posted a statement on the internet cafe they operate on the 27th, saying, "I am only sorry to the teacher," and added, "I hope we can reach a settlement, but even if not, I want to at least reflect on my wrongdoing through a deposit."

On the morning of the 16th, the day of the CSAT, examinees are waiting for the exam start time at the testing site of Gyeongsin Girls' High School in Buk-gu, Gwangju. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the Ministry of Education, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Seoul Teachers' Union, on the 16th, when the test bell rang signaling the end of the exam at the CSAT testing site, A’s child, a test-taker, was caught marking answers after the bell, which was deemed cheating. A then threatened and verbally abused the proctor, saying things like "I will make you leave the teaching profession" and "Since you ruined my child's life, I will ruin yours too." A also held a one-person picket protest, claiming "my child did not cheat."

Regarding the reason for revealing their identity as a lawyer, A said, "I used the term to explain the distinction between intent and negligence, not to leverage my status as a lawyer." They added, "Because it is legal terminology, I wanted to meet and explain, but the teacher seemed startled and asked if I was threatening them. That was not the case; I said, 'Since this is a matter concerning my child, I have no choice but to fight to the end.' That part seems to have been misunderstood. Even if I concede a hundred times, that was my fault."

Regarding suspicions that A illegally obtained the teacher’s workplace information, A explained, "My daughter saw the proctor’s name tag and remembered the name. Thinking the teacher was a middle or high school teacher, I started checking school websites near the education office, and I found posts by the teacher."

They continued, "On the 16th, I tried to submit my child's statement to the testing site and the education office, but they did not accept it until late at night, so I just went home. The next day at 9 a.m., I found the school through a search, so the claim that I obtained this information through internal sources within a short time is a baseless assumption," emphasizing, "No police officer or public official provided this information internally."

A also denied the cheating allegations against their child. They stated, "My child did not write answers after the end signal," adding, "My child feels wronged, and three students testified that during the 'beep beep beep beep' end signal, the proctor hit their hand on the 'beep.' This testimony has already been sent as a certified document to the Ministry of Education’s cheating review committee."

Meanwhile, education authorities believe A is suspected of defamation and threats and plan to file a police complaint against A within this week.