Jeon Gyo-jo Condemns Decision Not to Prosecute in Daejeon Yongsan Elementary Teacher's Death Case... Demands Reinvestigation

"Failure to Fulfill the Duty of Fact-Finding as an Investigative Agency"
Petition Submitted to Daejeon Police Agency Civil Complaints Office Urging Reinvestigation

The Daejeon branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union held a press conference in front of the Daejeon Police Agency on the afternoon of the 26th to condemn the decision not to prosecute in the case of the on-duty death of a teacher at Daejeon Yongsan Elementary School. / Daejeon=Photo by Park Jong-myeong

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union condemned the police's decision to dismiss charges in the case of the teacher's death in the Daejeon Yongsan Elementary School incident and called for a reinvestigation.

The Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, and Chungbuk branches of the union held a press conference in front of the Daejeon Police Agency on the afternoon of the 26th, stating, "Once again, the police have abandoned their duty as an investigative agency to uncover the truth," and "We strongly condemn the police's inadequate investigation results and the decision not to prosecute."

They continued, "The late Daejeon Yongsan Elementary School teacher's death was a case that sparked public outrage due to malicious interference in educational activities by related parties," adding, "The deceased teacher devoted themselves to student guidance, but some malicious complainants dissatisfied with educational activities repeatedly filed malicious complaints and even falsely reported child abuse, engaging in unjust interference with educational activities that ultimately led to their death."

The union stated, "Not only the teachers but also many citizens hoped for a firm and strict investigation into the parents who filed malicious complaints and the administrators who failed to protect the teachers. However, less than a day after the recognition of the teacher's death, the police dismissed charges and decided not to prosecute all ten suspects," criticizing, "The police's consistent dismissal of charges and non-prosecution even in a case with clear perpetrators is a dereliction of duty as a national investigative agency and a declaration of abandonment of public education by the state."

They urged, "The police must immediately launch a reinvestigation so that the suspects pay the appropriate price for the unjust interference in educational activities that the deceased teacher had to endure," and submitted a petition calling for reinvestigation at the Daejeon Police Agency's civil affairs office.

Earlier that morning, the Daejeon Police Agency announced that they found no evidence to recognize the suspects' criminal charges and decided to dismiss charges and not prosecute.