Eight Days After Teacher's Death, Another Child Abuse Report Led to Teacher's Sudden Replacement

[Anchor]

Teachers took to the streets one day before the third anniversary of the death of a teacher at Seoi Elementary School. They demanded legislative changes, stating that nothing has improved since then.

Reporter Jeong Banseok shares the story of a teacher who even published a book after suffering from child abuse reports.

[Reporter]

In July 2023, Kim Hyun-joo, an elementary school teacher with over 20 years of experience, was reported for alleged child abuse.

A parent filed the report because Kim had instructed a student who failed to submit homework to solve problems on the classroom floor. The parent had also recorded the situation inside the classroom.

This occurred just eight days after the teacher at Seoi Elementary School passed away following struggles with parental complaints.

[Kim Hyun-joo / Elementary School Teacher: The shock at that time is indescribable. I was sitting in that classroom, unable to go home, and I called a suicide prevention center. After I was forcibly replaced as the homeroom teacher, eight different teachers came to take over that same class.]

It took nearly two years for Kim to be cleared of charges, as her actions were recognized as part of routine classroom management, and to finally resolve the subsequent civil lawsuit.

Kim even published a book to help other teachers who have gone through similar experiences.

The title is "Surviving Unjust Child Abuse Reports."

[Kim Hyun-joo / Elementary School Teacher: There were days when I received calls from four teachers who had been reported for child abuse. We cried together, and our conversations always started with, 'Now I understand why the Seoi Elementary teacher passed away.' There is nothing we can do.]

One day before the third anniversary of the Seoi Elementary teacher's death, Kim took to the streets.

Organizers estimated that 50,000 people participated.

They spoke with one voice, saying that nothing has changed even after three years.

[Elementary School Teacher from Busan: I want to ask the parent who reported me once again. Did you feel at ease after threatening to report a teacher? Did that really help your child grow up to be a better person?]

They demanded amendments to the law, arguing that the concept of "emotional child abuse" under the current Child Welfare Act is too vague, leading to an excessive number of accusations.

[Kang Seok-jo / Chairman of the Elementary School Teachers' Labor Union: Amend the Child Welfare Act immediately. Education can no longer function on the sacrifices of teachers!]

A day earlier, Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin expressed his intention to push for legal amendments, stating that he would ensure educational activities are not stifled by reckless, malicious child abuse reports.

(Video reporting: Park Hyun-chul, Kim Young-hwan | Video editing: Kim Jong-tae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.