"If You Hope Nothing Happens to Your Daughter"... Parent Who Threatened Teacher Reported for Child Abuse

"Do Not Force Empathy on Children" and Other Threats
School Teachers' Rights Protection Committee Recognizes Infringement
Despite Education Office's Criminal Complaint, Child Abuse Lawsuit Filed
Teacher Claims "Harassed Until May This Year"

A parent who was criminally charged for filing 'malicious complaints,' including sending threatening messages to a teacher, has reportedly filed a child abuse accusation against the same teacher.

On the 18th, the Seoul Teachers' Union announced through a press release that Parent B, who was criminally charged by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 17th, has filed a child abuse accusation against Teacher A.

According to the Seoul Teachers' Union, in March of last year, Teacher A held a face-to-face consultation with Student C, the child of Parent B, for more than two hours at B's request. The following month, the school's Wee Class counselor recommended a comprehensive psychological test to Student C. In May, Teacher A took a group photo of the students and posted it on the class bulletin board, but Parent B complained that their child, Student C, was not in the photo. At that time, Parent B criticized Teacher A by referring to the previous Wee Class counseling and the comprehensive psychological test, expressing that "you made my child a mentally ill person." It is understood that Parent B sent a lengthy letter to Teacher A over two days in the same month.

Subsequently, Parent B demanded the vice principal to obtain a written report from Teacher A regarding the circumstances under which Student C underwent the comprehensive psychological test and about Student C's school life. Around July, Parent B delivered letters containing threatening content such as, "If you want nothing to happen to my daughter, you better read the letter to the end," "Do not force your emotions to be empathized with by the children," and "Before scolding others, think about your own problems first."

A letter excerpt sent by a parent of a student in grade B. [Photo by Seoul Teachers' Union]

Then, around November, Teacher A requested a review by the School Authority Protection Committee regarding Parent B's threatening behavior. The committee recognized Parent B's actions as interference with educational activities and resolved protective measures for Teacher A, including "criminal charges by the education office against the perpetrator and measures to prevent recurrence."

The Seoul Teachers' Union pointed out that although the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education accepted the request for prosecution at the time, the criminal charges against Parent B were delayed. Through the Seoul Teachers' Union, Teacher A stated, "In December last year, the School Authority Protection Committee decided that the education office would file charges against Parent B, but the education office did not prosecute the parent. It was only after the issue was publicized through the Seoul Teachers' Union that the education office filed charges against B. Parent B harassed me until May of this year," the teacher said.

The Seoul Teachers' Union stated, "Teachers must be able to be free from 'false child abuse reports,'" and emphasized, "It is urgent to secure budgets and personnel to support teachers suffering from malicious complaints."