Press Conference in Front of the Office of Education
Calls for Full Investigation and Measures to Prevent Recurrence
Parents' groups in the Daejeon area are observing a moment of silence on the morning of the 17th in front of the Daejeon Office of Education before a press conference related to the murder case of Ha Neul Kim. / Daejeon=Photo by Jongmyung Park
Parents and educational organizations in Daejeon have called for an apology and a thorough investigation from the superintendent regarding the case of Kim Haneul, a student who was murdered by a teacher.
On the 17th, groups including the Chamgyoyuk Parents' Association and the Daejeon Parents' Association for the Realization of Equal Education held a press conference in front of the Daejeon Office of Education, stating, "It is hard to believe that a young child, who should be enjoying her childhood, was killed at a school that was thought to be safe," and added, "The more we think about it, the more heartbreaking it is to wonder what the school and the education office were doing that this could not have been prevented."
They continued, "The police must thoroughly uncover the truth behind this unprecedented murder and find the cause," emphasizing, "Only then can we begin to atone for the wrongful death of Haneul."
They also criticized, "What angers us the most as we watched Haneul's funeral process is that the superintendent, who is responsible, has not even issued an apology," and added, "Because the superintendent has not apologized, any other explanations sound like mere excuses rather than sincere apologies."
The organizations appealed, "Even now, the superintendent should apologize and establish practical measures to prevent recurrence," and urged, "Do not neglect the issue by leaving it solely to the school, but instead, find and announce measures to ensure children can attend school safely."
They further stressed, "We hope that psychological support will be provided not only to the students and parents of the school involved in this incident, but also to the staff," and added, "Comprehensive and diverse support is needed for those who suffered from the perpetrator's actions and for teachers whose pride as educators has been shattered, so that they can recover and move forward."
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