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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Education Office Criticized for Demanding Legal Fees from Parents of Deceased Student

From Hankyoreh · (36m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A father criticized the South Korean education office for demanding 8.87 million won in legal fees from the parents of a deceased vocational high school student.
  • The student died during a field training program in 2021, and while the company representative was found guilty of professional negligence leading to death, the education office's responsibility was not recognized in the first trial.
  • The education office stated it would cover all legal costs, but activists argue for a sincere apology and measures to prevent recurrence.

The tragic death of Hong Jeong-un, a vocational high school student, during a field training program has exposed a deeply troubling aspect of our education system. The fact that the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, after promising to take full responsibility, is now attempting to claim legal costs from the bereaved parents is not just callous, it is a betrayal of trust.

What has the education office taken responsibility for? Nothing at all. Please think about it once more.

— Hong Seong-giFather of the deceased student, Hong Jeong-un, speaking at a press conference.

As reported by Hankyoreh, the parents are understandably outraged. Hong Seong-gi, the father, articulated the injustice: "The court acknowledged the education office's fault, but not their liability for damages. We didn't appeal because of the time and financial burden, yet they are demanding litigation costs. This is utterly unreasonable."

At the time of the accident, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education bowed its head before the bereaved family and promised to take full responsibility. But five years later, the change in superintendent has brought not comfort, but a 'bill for litigation costs' – a brazen betrayal.

— The people who remember the late field trainee Hong Jeong-unStatement read at the press conference.

This incident raises serious questions about the accountability of educational authorities. The court ruling, while finding the company representative guilty of professional negligence leading to death, did not hold the education office liable for damages. However, the court's written judgment did state that the education office was negligent in its management and supervision of the field training. To hide behind legal technicalities and then seek financial compensation from grieving parents is a perversion of justice and a stain on our education administration.

Despite the court ruling stating negligence in field training management and supervision, are you enjoying the victory of winning the lawsuit by hiding behind legal loopholes that make direct causation of death difficult to prove?

— The people who remember the late field trainee Hong Jeong-unStatement read at the press conference, criticizing the education office.

While the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has since backtracked, stating they will cover all costs, this is a reactive measure. What is needed is a genuine apology from the Superintendent and concrete steps to prevent such tragedies and ensure proper oversight of field training programs. This is not just about legal fees; it's about the fundamental responsibility of the education system to protect its students.

What kind of educational administration in any country demands lawyer's fees and success fees from a grieving family who lost their child?

— The people who remember the late field trainee Hong Jeong-unStatement read at the press conference, questioning the education office's actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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