"Turning the Classroom into an 'Illegal Recording Device'"
Webtoon artist Ju Homin (42) filed a lawsuit accusing a special education teacher who taught his son of child abuse, and the first trial court recognized the evidentiary value of a 'secret recording.' Amid this, claims have emerged that similar recording devices are being found in school settings.
The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations issued a statement on the 29th, saying, "When the Suwon District Court recognized secret recordings as evidence in this lawsuit, it opened Pandora's box that turns classrooms into illegal recording studios," adding, "Parents are increasingly sending secret recording devices to their children in violation of the law, and teachers, feeling anxious, buy recording blockers to protect themselves. This 'makjang classroom' is shameful and tragic."
They continued, "How can teachers passionately teach students, and how can students learn respect, consideration, and cooperation in such distrustful and surveilled classrooms?" emphasizing, "Secret recordings that devastate classrooms are illegal and must be clearly condemned and severely punished to eradicate them."
The day before, the National Special Education Teachers' Union reported that cases of illegal recordings being detected in schools have been increasing recently. According to the union, a recording device sewn into the hem of a disabled student's clothing was found at one school. On the 23rd, another report was received of a parent repeatedly and continuously sending a recording device in a student's bag to school at a different school.
A small voice recorder taken from the hem of a disabled student's clothing. [Image source=Jeon-guk Teuksu Gyosa Nojo]
Regarding this, the union explained, "Illegal recordings reported to the union are often not due to suspicions of child abuse or inability to communicate with the school, but for other purposes," adding, "Teachers testify 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 child abuse report materials."
Previously, Ju and his spouse had accused special education teacher A, who taught their elementary school son, of making emotionally abusive remarks during class.
At that time, Ju and his spouse submitted recordings secretly placed in their son's bag as evidence. The first trial court ruled that the recordings were "illegally obtained evidence," but "considering the exceptional circumstances of the case, recognized their evidentiary value." The court found teacher A guilty of abuse and sentenced them to a fine of 2 million won.
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