Gyeonggi education transition team seeks audit over alleged cover-up of ex-secretary's child's school violence

An interim committee preparing for the Gyeonggi provincial education superintendent's term has formally requested an audit into allegations of a school violence cover-up. The focus is on the handling of an incident involving the child of Kim Seung-hee, a former presidential secretary for state affairs.

The committee stated that its review of testimonies and documents indicated potential irregularities, including unfair promotions and a poorly conducted investigation. They have requested Gyeonggi Superintendent Ahn Min-seok to audit 13 public officials involved in the case.

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The allegations that the case was improperly downplayed and suppressed throughout the entire process of handling the school violence incident involving the former secretary's child have been continuously raised.

The incident in question occurred on July 10, 2023, when Kim's child allegedly assaulted a younger student twice at an elementary school in Seongnam, causing injuries. Concerns were raised about the leniency of the disciplinary action taken against Kim's child, leading to suspicions of external pressure influencing the investigation.

The audit request specifically seeks to examine the appropriateness of the Seongnam Education Support Office's School Violence Committee operations, the investigation process, and record management. It also aims to clarify allegations of avoiding mandatory school transfer and external pressure, the criteria used to determine the persistence of school violence, and whether any preferential personnel actions were taken following the incident.

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An independent fact-finding investigation is necessary regarding the allegations of avoiding mandatory school transfer and external pressure against the perpetrator student.