Interview for "Teachers 2" Scheduled for the 13th
Jo Jungshik, a star English instructor at Megastudy, has become embroiled in allegations of trading exam questions with current teachers. Jo has been referred to the prosecution without detention on charges related to the question trading.
On June 10, investigative media outlet Sherlock reported that Jo Jungshik, an English instructor at Megastudy, purchased mock exam questions intended for private academies from a high school teacher, referred to as Teacher A, for 58 million won.
According to the report, Teacher A has extensive experience in question creation, having authored EBS College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) linked textbooks since 2009 and served as a member of the question-setting committee for the National Joint Academic Assessment since 2005. From 2018, over a period of about five years, Teacher A sold questions to 11 academies, including Jo, earning approximately 238 million won.
The number of current teachers who traded questions with Jo totals 21, including Teacher A. Among them were individuals with experience in authoring EBS CSAT-linked textbooks and in setting questions for the National Joint Academic Assessment organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Notably, Teacher A, who was part of the EBS textbook writing team, was also found to have leaked two EBS CSAT-linked textbooks that had not yet been displayed in bookstores to Jo without authorization.
Since 2016, the Ministry of Education has strictly prohibited current teachers from engaging in transactions to create questions for private academy textbooks. Such acts are considered violations of the law and may result in the maximum penalty of dismissal or removal from office, and school principals are not permitted to grant approval for concurrent employment.
In relation to this, the National Office of Investigation of the National Police Agency referred 72 current teachers who traded questions with private academies to the prosecution on May 17. In addition to the current teachers, three private education companies and 11 academy instructors were also referred to the prosecution. According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, Jo has admitted to the question trading. However, Jo's legal representative told Sherlock that Jo did not admit to the question trading.
Meanwhile, Jo is the leading English instructor at Megastudy and is currently appearing on Channel A's "Take Care of My Grades: Teachers Season 2." Jo is expected to attend the scheduled interview for Channel A's entertainment program "Take Care of My Grades - Teachers 2" (hereafter "Teachers 2") as planned this week.
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