Teacher Who Threw Paper at 5-Year-Old Kindergarten Student Sent to Prosecution on Child Abuse Charges

Violent Acts Such as Tearing Worksheets in Front of Children
Kindergarten Dismisses Staff and Reports Incident... Police Investigation Underway

A kindergarten teacher in her 30s who threw paper at kindergarten students has been sent to the prosecution on charges of child abuse.

The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 21st that they had sent Ms. A, a homeroom teacher in her 30s, to the prosecution on charges of violent acts against 5-year-old kindergarten students (child abuse under the Child Welfare Act).

According to the police, Ms. A is suspected of tearing up worksheets and throwing paper toward the children in front of the students at a private kindergarten in Daegu around January 17.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ms. A's actions were revealed when one child told their parents. After the parents strongly protested to the kindergarten, the kindergarten sent a text message to the parents stating that "Ms. A was urgently dismissed due to emotional and administrative disqualifications concerning the child," and subsequently reported Ms. A to the police on charges of child abuse. The parents also reported Ms. A to the local district office.

After the victim's parents reported suspected child abuse in January, the local government reviewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the kindergarten and then requested an investigation by the police.

Based on statements from related parties and the kindergarten CCTV footage, the police determined that there was probable cause against Ms. A. The police did not disclose specific details of the child abuse as the investigation is ongoing.