Teachers' Union: "Son's Hand Hit Friend's Cheek? ... Seems Unaware of How Wrong It Was"

Controversy Over Daejeon Elementary Teacher Death Case
"Not a 'People's Court'... Will Take Legal Action"

Regarding the elementary school teacher in Daejeon who died after suffering from malicious complaints by some parents, a parent accused as the perpetrator posted a statement aiming to correct false information, while the Daejeon Teachers' Union suggested legal action, accusing the parent of "media manipulation."

On the 5th, an elementary school teacher A in Daejeon, who had been suffering from malicious complaints and accusations of child abuse, died by suicide. According to the Daejeon Teachers' Union and fellow teachers, A was reportedly accused of child abuse by a parent after sending a student who had assaulted a friend to the principal's office at an elementary school in Yuseong-gu in 2019.

On the afternoon of the 9th, notes containing criticism from citizens were posted in front of a store in Yuseong-gu, known to be operated by the parent accused in connection with the elementary school teacher in Daejeon who passed away due to malicious complaints. Photo by Yonhap News

As public outrage grew over Teacher A's death, parent B posted a statement on an online community on the 11th. B explained the circumstances that led their child to be sent to the principal's office, saying, "While playing with a classmate, my child's hand hit the friend's cheek, and the teacher made my child and the friend who was hit stand in front of the class and apologize."

B also described Teacher A's disciplinary method as an "Inminjaepan-style punishment" (people's tribunal-style punishment).

B claimed, "Afterwards, the teacher made my child stand alone in front of the entire class and asked each student what punishment would be appropriate," adding, "'Send them to the principal' and other punishments were decided not by the teacher in charge of discipline but by the students." B continued, "My child was scared and distressed by this situation and covered their ears with their hands, but the teacher told them to lower their hands, and then my child was sent to the principal's office."

However, this explanation sparked further controversy. The unusual expression "my son's hand hit the friend's cheek" was criticized as a sophism to defend their son. Ultimately, A deleted the statement less than an hour after posting it.

The family of an elementary school teacher in Daejeon who passed away due to malicious complaints visited an elementary school in Yuseong-gu where the teacher worked on the morning of the 9th to say their final goodbyes. The family is shedding tears in front of the memorial space set up at the school. Photo by Yonhap News

The Teachers' Union also criticized B's statement. On the 13th, Park So-young, Policy Director of the Daejeon Teachers' Union and Head of the Elementary Teachers' Union Policy Bureau, said on YTN News Rider, "They still seem unaware of what they did wrong and how much they and their child troubled the teacher," adding, "They cut out the context and only wrote the parts favorable to themselves, even describing the slap as 'the hand hit the cheek,' which was very absurd to see."

Park also raised issues with the use of the term "Inminjaepan." He said, "They wrote that the teacher conducted an Inminjaepan, but the prosecution at the time ruled that it was not an Inminjaepan," and added, "Nonetheless, they used this expression again, and we plan to file a defamation lawsuit for posthumous honor damage."

He continued, "An apology should come first, but instead, they cut out the context and engaged in media manipulation to present themselves as blameless, as if it was unavoidable and the teacher was at fault. The bereaved family is very angry about this," and said, "We have also decided that we must respond legally to this."

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