Seoicho Parents' Mass Lawsuit Met with Jo Hee-yeon's Statement: "Reopening Old Wounds"

Parents Involved in the 'Pencil Incident' File Multiple Lawsuits Against Netizens
Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon’s Opinion Letter Sent to Investigative Agencies Revealed

The aftermath of the 'Seoi Elementary School Incident,' in which a teacher in their 20s working at Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, took their own life on school grounds last July, continues to unfold. On the 8th, Cho Hee-yeon, the Superintendent of Education for Seoul, posted a message on his Facebook titled "Opinion Letter of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Regarding the Mass Lawsuits by Seoi Elementary School Parents (Sent to Ansan Danwon Police Station)."

Superintendent Cho stated, "I have seen reports that a parent, who was suspected of abuse of power related to the death of a teacher in Seocho-gu, Seoul, has filed mass lawsuits against 26 teachers and netizens who posted online comments, and that the related teachers are under investigation. As the superintendent responsible for Seoi Elementary School and as the chairman of the Council of Superintendents of Education, I would like to share my opinion."

The teacher who passed away at Seoi Elementary School was known to have frequently expressed stress due to complaints from parents, which caused great public outrage within the teaching community and led to a large-scale teachers' rally.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The teacher who passed away at Seoi Elementary School was known to have frequently expressed stress due to complaints from parents, which caused great public outrage within the teaching community and led to a large-scale teachers' rally. Notably, before the teacher's death, an incident known as the 'Pencil Incident' occurred, where one student drew on another student's forehead with a pencil. There were suspicions that parents had filed malicious complaints against the deceased teacher in relation to this incident.

However, police investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing by the parents, and the parent in question filed defamation lawsuits against numerous netizens who posted defamatory comments about them. It is reported that a current teacher who posted related content on an online community was also included in the lawsuit. Regarding the inclusion of a current teacher, Superintendent Cho said, "It is very unfortunate to reopen the wounds of the Seoi Elementary School incident by suing the related teacher again amid the confusion that occurred immediately after the incident." He added, "The teacher testified to the police that they only had the perception that the circumstances of the death at school should not be concealed and had no intention of defaming the parent."

Superintendent Cho expressed concern that while the parent's lawsuit may be a reasonable action on an individual level, it could deepen conflicts from the perspective of the educational community.
Photo by Yonhap News

Superintendent Cho expressed concern that while the parent's lawsuit might be a reasonable action on an individual level, it could deepen conflicts from the perspective of the educational community. He said, "When we make small concessions, sacrifices, and sometimes even endure losses to move forward together, our children's education can be properly established." He added, "From that perspective, this lawsuit is undesirable and could further provoke conflicts in the recovering educational community." Finally, he appealed, "I think it would be more reasonable for the parent to withdraw the lawsuit and turn the pain of Seoi Elementary School into a memory of the past." He also urged, "Furthermore, I ask the police to make a rational and balanced judgment during the investigation process."

Meanwhile, the Ansan Danwon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province summoned Mr. A, who was sued for defamation, as a suspect for questioning on the 28th of last month. The Seoul Teachers' Union strongly criticized the parent who filed the mass lawsuits on the 31st of last month, saying, "Was it necessary to file lawsuits at this time when the official determination of the teacher's death in the line of duty has not yet been made?" and "Do you consider your own honor a bigger issue than the death of the homeroom teacher?" They further stated, "We hope the plaintiff will also sue the Seoul Teachers' Union," and added, "If it is related to the deceased, we will accept any legal dispute."