The Real Story Behind Joo Ho-min's Son's School Transfer?..."There Are More Children with Disabilities" Complaints from Overzealous Parents

If More Than 6 Disabled Children Under Special Education Act, Class Must Be Increased
Parents of Non-Disabled Children Organize Signature Campaign
Cancelled as Mr. Joo's Child Transfers... "Clear Discrimination"

Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min reported the special education teacher responsible for his elementary school son for child abuse, and claims have been raised that he had no choice but to decide on his son's school transfer due to non-disabled parents.

According to the National Parents' Solidarity for the Disabled on the 13th, they proposed to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education last June to expand the special education class at the elementary school attended by Joo's son. This was after Joo reported special education teacher A for child abuse charges, leading to A's suspension, prompting them to suggest improvement measures.

Webtoon artist Ju Homin. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Under the Special Education Act, if the number of special education students in one class exceeds six, an additional class must be established. The elementary school Joo's son attended fell under this category, making it mandatory to increase the number of special education classes.

Following their request, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education reviewed the law and determined that the elementary school qualified for expansion. They also promised the Parents' Solidarity for the Disabled and Joo's side in September last year to expand the special education classes and hire more teachers.

When this news became known, parents of non-disabled children opposed the increase, concerned that the number of disabled students accommodated would rise to 12. According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, some parents argued, "If the customized class (special education class) is expanded, children from nearby customized classes will enroll or transfer," and "The victims of the law's standards are 187 (non-disabled) students."

There were also indications that these parents organized opposition activities against the expansion of special education classes. They held 'meetings opposing class expansion' and conducted signature campaigns in front of the school gate, expressing their opposition to the expansion.

As opposition from parents of non-disabled children intensified, the vice-principal of the elementary school reportedly stated that "the expansion of special education classes can only be carried out with the consensus of the entire school community, including parents of disabled and non-disabled children and teachers."

Subsequently, Joo decided to transfer his son to another elementary school, reducing the number of special education students, and the expansion of the special education class at the school was canceled. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education explained, "The expansion was pursued as the legal requirements were met, but it was canceled because the number decreased after Joo's child transferred."

"Ministry of Education neglects autism hatred... Shifts responsibility to teacher-parent conflicts"

Regarding this, Kim Hyung-su, Secretary-General of the Disabled Student Support Network, told Kyunghyang Shinmun, "Opposing the expansion despite it being a legally defined right is clear discrimination," and "Both the parents and the school's responses were inappropriate."

Meanwhile, the Parents' Solidarity for the Disabled held a press conference on the 7th, stating, "Since the controversy over Joo's son, the Ministry of Education has been neglecting autism hatred," and "Instead of shifting responsibility to conflicts between teachers and parents over school issues, support systems must be established in educational settings."

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