"Vice-Principal Suffers Facial Paralysis from Abusive Complaints: Court Orders 30 Million Won Compensation"

Vice-Principal Wins Damages Lawsuit Against Parent

Court Rules "Infringement of Teaching Authority... Orders 30 Million Won Compensation"

The vice-principal of an elementary school in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, has won a damages lawsuit filed against a parent, claiming psychological harm caused by the parent’s repeated complaints and protests. The court determined that the parent’s complaints exceeded the scope of legitimate rights and infringed upon the teacher's educational activities.

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According to Yonhap News on May 12, the Civil Division of the Jeonju District Court (Presiding Judge Hwang Jeong-su) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a damages claim filed by A, the vice-principal of an elementary school in Jeonju, against B, a parent.

The court ordered B to pay A 30 million won in compensation for emotional distress, along with delayed interest.

This lawsuit arose from repeated complaints and protests by parent B at an elementary school in Jeonju between 2023 and 2024. Investigations found that B had filed multiple complaints with the school through the school's website and by phone regarding their child.

B reportedly made demands such as "Correct my child’s school record," "Why is my sick child being made to play basketball?" and "Why did you return the Teacher’s Day gift?" While some of these complaints were based on actual events, others were determined to be about incidents that did not occur, with B still demanding action from the school.

A, who was responsible for handling parental complaints at the time, reported experiencing severe stress in the process. It is known that A’s health deteriorated to the point that daily life became difficult, suffering from depression and facial paralysis symptoms.

The court stated, "Parents and guardians are entitled to express their opinions to schools regarding their child’s or children’s education, and schools should respect those opinions." However, the court also emphasized, "Such expressions must be made in a way that respects the professionalism and authority of educators."

The court added, "While there are circumstances to consider since the defendant filed complaints for their child's sake, actions that unjustly interfere with legitimate educational activities and infringe upon teaching authority exceed the boundaries of legitimate rights."

Taking into account the degree and duration of B’s complaints and the psychological harm suffered by A, the court set the compensation amount at 30 million won.

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