"You're someone who worked in Gangnam" Verbal Abuse... Principal Forced Attendance at Wine Party

Promise to Allow Memorial Banner for Seoi Elementary Teachers Reversed
Pointing and Yelling at Teachers During Wine Party in Principal's Office

The principal of an elementary school in Seoul is under investigation by the education office following allegations of workplace harassment against teachers. On the 18th, JTBC reported that teachers at an elementary school in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, were subjected to verbal abuse and finger-pointing by the principal. In particular, the teachers claimed that Principal A not only verbally abused them but also shouted loudly and forced them to attend after-school wine parties.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has launched an investigation following allegations that a principal at an elementary school in Seoul bullied teachers in the workplace. On the 18th, JTBC reported that teachers at an elementary school in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, were subjected to verbal abuse and finger-pointing by the principal. In particular, the teachers claimed that Principal A shouted loudly and forced them to attend an after-school wine party. JTBC

On September 4th last year, there was a leave strike by teachers to mark the 49th-day memorial service for a teacher at Seoi Elementary School. At that time, elementary school teachers in Gwanak-gu also intended to participate in the leave strike but changed their minds after the school proposed to hang a memorial banner. However, it was reported that the banner was not hung on the day of the strike.

When the teachers protested, Principal A unleashed verbal abuse. When one teacher said, "I am worried that people might misunderstand that the teachers are not taking this incident seriously," the principal raised his voice, saying, "Teacher, I am the principal. I can speak more harshly than you, but I am holding back right now." It was also reported that early leave approvals were not properly granted. A teacher at the elementary school told JTBC, "They said I would be immediately disciplined if I participated in the leave strike. I submitted an early leave request timed with the end of the children's classes, but even that was not approved."

Furthermore, a temporary teacher who asked for softer language was verbally abused by Principal A, who said, "How dare you send such a message to a principal who worked in Gangnam and Seocho?" The temporary teacher claimed that Principal A threatened them by finger-pointing and pounding the desk with his fist, and even the students who entered the classroom at the time sensed the tension.

There was also testimony that Principal A enjoyed wine parties in the principal’s office about once a month during working hours. A teacher at the school explained, "When I was called to the wine party, I couldn’t just say 'I don’t want to' and leave right there," adding, "Because there was a care classroom, not all the students had left yet." The school and Principal A reportedly did not respond to JTBC’s requests for comment. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated that it is currently "investigating the principal’s alleged workplace harassment."