Apology from Yoon Geon-young, Chungbuk Superintendent of Education, for Saying "Teachers Are Potential Murderers"

Explanation of "What I Intended to Say About the Role and Attitude of Teachers"

Yoon Geon-young, Superintendent of Education in Chungbuk Province, who sparked controversy by saying "teachers are potential murderers" during a special lecture for regular teacher qualification training, has apologized for his remarks.

Yoon Geon-young, Superintendent of Education of Chungbuk Province, at a press conference
[Photo by Chungbuk Office of Education]

On the 26th, Superintendent Yoon held a press conference at the Chungbuk Office of Education and bowed his head, saying, "Regardless of the background, purpose, process, or concluding remarks, I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by my remarks during this critical time."

Superintendent Yoon explained that the lecture held the previous day (the 25th) was "intended to discuss enhancing teachers' professionalism, their roles and responsibilities, and the true attitude of teachers," adding, "From beginning to end, I repeatedly stated that I would be a superintendent dedicated to teachers who devote themselves in the school field."

He added, "I will do my best for the teachers who silently dedicate themselves to students in the school field."

Earlier, on the 25th, during a special lecture for the Level 1 Regular Teacher Qualification Training in Chungbuk Province, Superintendent Yoon said, "Teachers must acknowledge that they are potential murderers and become teachers," and added, "If you are not mentally prepared, then drop out and leave."

He also reportedly said, "It is important to respond confidently even if parents who have more money and better academic backgrounds than teachers protest," and "If a problem arises while disciplining a dozing student, I will give you my personal phone number, so call me."

Superintendent Yoon's remarks appear to have been made in the context of emphasizing the need to protect teachers' authority and the sense of mission of teachers, following the recent death of a teacher at Seo-i Elementary School in Seoul.

However, as the content of the special lecture spread through social networking services (SNS), criticism followed, stating, "Regardless of Superintendent Yoon's intention, it was wrong to describe teachers as potential murderers."

According to Yonhap News, Kang Chang-soo, head of the Chungbuk branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, said, "The superintendent said something he should never have said," and pointed out, "This is not simply a mistake by the superintendent but a problem with his perception of teachers."

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