Elementary School Teacher Who Pocketed 21.12 Million Won in Side Profits Expelled After Stirring Up School

Teacher Expelled for Selling Classroom Drones
Incheon Education Office Dismisses Teacher for Embezzlement
Teacher Challenges Both Disciplinary and Criminal Penalties

An elementary school teacher who diverted classroom equipment and sold it on a secondhand trading site has ultimately been expelled from the teaching profession. The Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education decided on the highest level of disciplinary action, dismissal, against the teacher for embezzling public funds.

An elementary school teacher who sold classroom equipment on a secondhand goods trading site and pocketed 20 million won was confirmed to have been dismissed late (photo is for article understanding and unrelated to the content).

According to the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education on September 6, a disciplinary committee was convened this past June, and the dismissal of Teacher A, who worked at an elementary school in Incheon, was approved. From September 2023 until last year, Teacher A is accused of selling educational items such as drones and cameras multiple times as secondhand goods at two schools where he was employed, embezzling a total of 21.12 million won.

The crime was uncovered last year during an internal school inspection when some equipment was found to be missing. The school immediately reported this to the city education office and filed a complaint with the police against Teacher A. An audit by the city education office additionally confirmed that Teacher A had committed similar offenses at another school he was transferred to through a personnel reassignment.

During the investigation, it was revealed that after allegations of embezzlement arose, Teacher A repaid part of the embezzled amount. The prosecution charged Teacher A with occupational embezzlement through a summary indictment, seeking a fine of 5 million won. A summary indictment allows for a fine without a formal trial; however, Teacher A objected to this penalty and requested a formal trial on September 2.

Teacher A also refused to accept the disciplinary decision. It has been reported that he appealed the dismissal by filing a petition for review with the Teachers' Appeals Committee.

An official from the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "We confirmed Teacher A's embezzlement of public funds after reviewing records from the past five years," but added that it is difficult to disclose specific details.