[Exclusive] Education Office Issues 'Warning' Disciplinary Action to Middle School Screening 'Pro-Japanese Video' on the Day Before Gwangbokjeol

Warning for Principals and Vice Principals... 'Reprimand' for Teachers
Kim Young-ho, Chair of the National Assembly Education Committee, says "Virtually Tolerated"

A middle school in Busan caused controversy by screening a biased video related to the Japanese colonial period during class on the day before Liberation Day this year, and received a minor disciplinary action from the education office.

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education. Photo by Asia Economy DB

According to materials obtained by Asia Economy on the 7th from Kim Young-ho, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education issued an administrative disposition of 'caution' to Principal A and Vice Principal B of the middle school on August 30, and a 'warning' to Teacher C. Administrative dispositions such as non-punitive warning, caution, and warning are lower in severity than disciplinary actions like dismissal, removal, suspension, pay reduction, or reprimand.

The incident was triggered on August 14, the day before Liberation Day, when Teacher C, in charge of commemorative education at a middle school in Nam-gu, Busan, showed a 12-minute video by a conservative YouTuber to about 700 students, which claimed that "Japan solved Joseon's hygiene, medical, and food problems during the late Joseon period."

At the time, the school explained, "We were unable to confirm the teacher's video education plan in advance." They also sent an apology letter to the families and stated that Teacher C, who caused the controversy, was excluded from classes and duties.

Parent groups and educational organizations called for a thorough investigation into the incident and demanded strong disciplinary actions such as dismissal or removal of the teacher who screened the video. As the controversy grew, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education dispatched a supervisor to the middle school to review the process of using the video in education and conducted additional investigations.

Regarding this, Education Committee Chairman Kim Young-ho criticized, "Issuing a minor disposition is practically tantamount to the education office condoning this issue."