Elementary School Teacher Who Committed Extreme Choice Wears Black Mask Before School Chrysanthemums... "I'm Sorry" Tearful Mourning Procession

Colleagues Mourn Death of Seocho Elementary School Teacher
Elementary Teachers Nationwide Create Group Chat to Pay Tribute

On the 20th afternoon, colleagues of a teacher who died on the 18th at an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul, gathered in front of the school wearing black masks and holding white chrysanthemums to pay their respects.

According to Yonhap News and others, mourners dressed in black formed a long line around the school fence. They took turns attaching memorial post-its to the school gate or placing chrysanthemums down to express their condolences for the deceased.

On the afternoon of the 20th, mourners continued to visit the memorial event held in front of Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where a newly appointed teacher made an extreme choice.
Photo by Yonhap News

On that day, numerous posts calling for a memorial for Mr. A appeared in a private community exclusively for elementary school teachers nationwide, and it is known that a group KakaoTalk chat room was subsequently created.

The teachers’ memorial gatherings are voluntary, with meeting times, locations, and dress codes shared on social media. The number of condolence wreaths sent by fellow teachers at the school’s main gate is also steadily increasing.

However, since the memorial gatherings are not protests, no placards are being prepared. According to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, cultural events are not subject to prior notification unless specific slogans are chanted or banners containing such slogans are used.

As citizens joined the line of fellow teachers paying tribute, the police controlled one lane in front of the school’s main gate.

As the memorial line continued without interruption, the school announced around 4:50 p.m. via broadcast, "We plan to create a temporary memorial space in front of the green fence inside the school gate."

About an hour earlier, around 3:30 p.m., approximately ten teachers attempted to meet with the school principal to request the establishment of a memorial space for safe mourning, but the school staff prevented them. A scuffle occurred during this process.

Those in line chanted "Open up" toward the school, asking to be allowed inside.

Condolence Wreaths and Post-its... "Sorry for Not Protecting Teachers’ Rights as a Senior"

Currently, photos of rows of condolence wreaths densely lined up from the school’s main gate to the school entrance are being posted on various online communities. Most wreaths bear inscriptions such as "From Fellow Teachers," while some are labeled "From Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Teachers" or "From Parents."

Post-its attached to the main gate include messages like, "At such a young age, with an indescribably tragic heart, I humbly try to understand the teacher who left this world from the educational field. I pray you find peace there." Other notes read, "Teacher, please rest peacefully and happily there without anyone bothering you or any pain. I am sorry, and I am very sorry," and "This was not only your sorrow and pain. I am sorry for not being there with you. Rest comfortably without pain. I am truly sorry for not protecting you, for failing to uphold teachers’ rights as a senior."

Some parents who came to send their children to school also observed a moment of silence. Some parents wore black clothing.

At the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, about 200 condolence wreaths from across the country were delivered, expressing mourning for the deceased and demanding a thorough investigation.

Earlier, on the 18th, a female teacher in her 20s, Ms. A, was found dead in a classroom at an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Teachers’ Union claimed, "Ms. A had recently been in charge of school violence cases and suffered from malicious complaints from parents. One such parent visited Ms. A and protested, saying she was unqualified as a teacher."

Regarding this, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated on the 19th, "There was a tragic incident yesterday morning where an elementary school teacher in Seocho-gu took an extreme measure. The school immediately reported it to the police, and the police are currently investigating to determine the exact cause of death. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. I earnestly ask everyone to consider the shock that school members will experience until the investigation results are released."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.