After the Ju Homin Verdict... "Increasing Number of Parents Secretly Sending Voice Recorders"

"Also patching together problematic parts"

Concerns have been raised that illegal recordings are occurring repeatedly in schools following the court's recognition of the evidentiary value of 'secret recordings' in the child abuse case involving the son of webtoon artist Joo Ho-min and a special education teacher.

On the 28th, the National Special Education Teachers' Union disclosed cases of illegal recordings detected since the start of the new semester. Parents have been placing recording devices in the belongings or clothing of disabled students to record class content.

Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min is responding to reporters' questions after the first trial sentencing hearing of special education teacher A, who was indicted on charges of emotionally abusing Joo's son, held last February at the Suwon District Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the union, on the 12th of this month, a recording device sewn into the hem of a disabled student's clothing was found at School A. On the 23rd, a report was received at School B that a parent had repeatedly and continuously placed a recording device in a student's bag since the first day of school on March 4. There were also cases where parents were found listening in real-time to school lessons and behavioral guidance through mobile phone or smartwatch apps.

The union stated, "Illegal recordings reported to the union are often not due to suspicions of child abuse or inability to communicate with the school, but for 'separate purposes.' Teachers have testified that it is not uncommon for recordings to be repeatedly made until problematic parts are found, then edited and submitted as complaints to the education office or used as evidence for child abuse reports."

A small voice recorder found in the hem of a student with disabilities' clothing. Photo by Special Education Teachers' Union, Yonhap News Agency

The union added, "'Secret recordings' reflect a perception problem among some parents who consider demands beyond the rights of guardians as natural," and urged, "The Ministry of Education and education offices should establish systematic and practical educational policies so that teachers and parents can unite as an educational community."

Meanwhile, in February, the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 9 (Judge Kwak Yong-heon) suspended sentencing with a fine of 2 million won for special education teacher C, who was indicted on charges of emotional abuse against Joo's son. At that time, the court recognized the evidentiary value of the recording file, which caused controversy as it was reported that Joo and his spouse secretly recorded class content.

C is accused of emotionally abusing the victim child by saying, among other things, "You have very bad manners. Ugh, I hate you. I hate you to death. I hate you. I hate you too. Really hate you," to Joo's son (then 9 years old) in a tailored learning class at an elementary school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on September 13, 2022. It is known that Joo and his spouse secretly placed a recording device in the child's bag to record the class content and filed a complaint against C using this as evidence.