A Teacher Off Work Asked to Find Child's Phone... When Refused, "Teachers These Days Are So Unfriendly"

Criticism from Netizens Follows Parent's Complaint
No Noticeable Changes at Seoi Elementary School Even After One Year

A story about a parent who criticized teachers for not immediately finding their son's cellphone has recently come to light, sparking controversy. On the 23rd, multiple online communities featured a post titled "Why are teachers so unfriendly these days?" This post included several screenshots of a message originally posted last month on the anonymous workplace community Blind, along with numerous comments from netizens.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Yonhap News]

The author, identified as a public servant named Mr. A, explained, "Today, my son said he left his cellphone at school, so I called his homeroom teacher to ask them to find it in the classroom, but they said they had already left work and that my son would have to retrieve it tomorrow morning." He then asked, "Is it really that difficult to go to school and quickly find my son's cellphone when he cried all evening because he didn't have it?" He concluded by saying, "I am also a public servant, and even when citizens contact me in the evening, I respond politely, but it seems teachers lack basic kindness."

In response, netizens commented, "Why should you go back when it's outside working hours? Are teachers not even human?", "Why should the teacher do that?", and "I hope this is just a post trying to stir up trouble." In reply to the criticism, Mr. A insisted in the comments, "Since this happened at school, shouldn't the homeroom teacher handle it? My son only stays quiet when he has his cellphone."

He added, "The homeroom teacher manages the classroom, so they should find it. Is it right for a parent who knows nothing to look for it? If a citizen calls the police station saying they left something there, do they just go into the office and find it themselves?" Netizens who read this responded with comments like, "It sounds fabricated, but this really happens in the field," and "It doesn't seem like a normal way of thinking from the start."

Even One Year After the Seoi Elementary Incident, Changes Are Hard to Feel in Schools

On the afternoon of the 20th, attendees are paying tribute to the deceased while waiting for their turn to lay flowers at the memorial event marking the first anniversary of the death of a teacher from Seo-i Elementary School, hosted by the Elementary School Teachers' Labor Union at the main stadium of Seoul National University of Education in Seocho-gu.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier on the afternoon of the 20th, a memorial event was held at the Seoul National University of Education's comprehensive stadium in Seocho-gu, Seoul, near Seoi Elementary School, where a rookie teacher was found dead. Following large-scale memorials held nationwide on the first anniversary of the Seoi Elementary incident on the 18th, fellow teachers gathered at this event organized by the Elementary School Teachers' Union to pay their respects. They took turns laying flowers and observing a moment of silence to pray for the repose of the Seoi Elementary teacher who passed away a year ago.

Since the rookie teacher was found dead on July 18 last year, voices calling for the protection of teachers' rights have grown louder among educators. However, teachers working in the field expressed regret that although the Seoi Elementary incident ignited social discussions about protecting teachers' rights, it has been difficult to feel any real change.

Mr. Seo, an elementary school teacher from Incheon who attended the event with his young child, told Yonhap News, "I came because I hope no teacher like this will ever appear again," and asked, "Do we have to risk our lives to teach children?" He added with a bitter expression, "There have been many rallies since the Seoi Elementary incident, but I don't know what has changed. There are still many people who threaten to report child abuse whenever they feel offended."