"Child with King's DNA"... Ministry of Education Officer Receives 3-Month Suspension Disciplinary Action

Sent 'Guidance Rules' to Child's Homeroom Teacher
Received the Lowest Severe Disciplinary Action, 'Suspension'

An official from the Ministry of Education who caused a 'power abuse controversy' by sending a document stating that their child had the 'DNA of a king' to the child's homeroom teacher has been suspended. On the 23rd, Segye Ilbo reported that the Central Disciplinary Committee of the Ministry of Personnel Management recently notified Mr. A, a Grade 5 official at the Ministry of Education, of a three-month suspension. Disciplinary actions for public officials are divided into severe punishments such as dismissal, removal, demotion, and suspension, and lighter punishments such as salary reduction and reprimand. Dismissal and removal are imposed in cases of serious misconduct with intentionality.

On the 23rd, Segye Ilbo reported that the Central Disciplinary Committee of the Ministry of Personnel Management recently notified Grade 5 administrative officer A from the Ministry of Education of a three-month suspension. Disciplinary actions for public officials are divided into severe penalties such as dismissal, removal, demotion, and suspension, and minor penalties such as salary reduction and reprimand. Dismissal and removal are imposed in cases of serious misconduct with intentionality.
[Photo by Ministry of Personnel Management]

Earlier, when allegations arose last year that Mr. A had abused power against his child's elementary school homeroom teacher, the Ministry of Education conducted an audit and requested the Central Disciplinary Committee to impose a severe punishment. Disciplinary actions for officials at Grade 5 or higher are reviewed and decided by the Central Disciplinary Committee of the Ministry of Personnel Management. In October 2022, Mr. A reported the homeroom teacher, Mr. B, of his elementary school child to the police and local government authorities on charges of child abuse and demanded the school replace the homeroom teacher.

A, a Ministry of Education official, is known to have sent a document to their child's homeroom teacher.
[Photo by National Elementary School Teachers' Union]

Eventually, the homeroom teacher was replaced by Mr. C, but shortly after Mr. C took office, it was revealed that Mr. A sent an email containing statements such as "Because the child has the DNA of a king, even if you speak to him like a prince in a pleasant and indirect way, he understands everything," and "Words that restrict such as 'Don't,' 'No,' and 'Stop' are 'absolutely' not to be used," which sparked controversy. Mr. A later issued an apology stating, "The expression 'DNA of a king' is part of materials from a child therapy institution," and added, "I did not consider that delivering materials given by an institution I visited in desperation to help a child struggling to adapt to school might have hurt the teacher."

At the time of the incident, Mr. A was working as a Grade 6 official at the Ministry of Education but was promoted to Grade 5 early last year and transferred to the Daejeon Office of Education. He was suspended from his position shortly after the controversy. Separately, Mr. B was cleared of child abuse charges in police and prosecution investigations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Mr. A.