Teacher Who Threw Student's Art into Trash and Assaulted Them... Court Fines 3 Million Won

Fine Imposed on Elementary School Teacher

An elementary school teacher was fined for throwing a 7-year-old student's art project on the floor, stepping on it, and assaulting the student in front of other children. The teacher reportedly committed these acts because the student did not obey.

According to Yonhap News on the 7th, Judge Kang Hyun-ho of the Criminal Division 4 at Cheongju District Court sentenced A (in his 60s), a teacher at an elementary school in Cheongju, to a fine of 3 million won for violating the Child Abuse Punishment Act and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo source=Pixabay]

The incident was investigated to have occurred between April and July 2021. At the time, B (7 years old) was participating in a ball game activity with classmates in A’s homeroom class. During the activity, B is accused of disobeying A’s instructions by throwing the ball forcefully and far, after which A allegedly hit B’s head multiple times in front of other students.

Additionally, A is accused of emotionally abusing B by throwing B’s clay project, which did not match the class theme, on the floor, stepping on it, throwing it into the trash bin, and kicking B’s desk because it was not clean.

This was revealed when a parent from the same class, who heard about B’s victimization from their own child, informed B’s mother. The court stated, "Considering that the defendant’s actions were remembered well enough by classmates to be reported to their own mothers, it appears the victim child suffered significant mental shock and trauma, and has not forgiven the defendant along with the parents."

However, the court also noted, "The defendant has had a long career in teaching without any major issues and has no prior criminal record, which are considered favorable factors in sentencing."