Incheon Education Official Criticized for Remark to Deceased Teacher's Family

An official from the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education reportedly urged the bereaved family of a special education teacher, who died under tragic circumstances, to offer congratulations to the newly elected Superintendent of Education. The incident has sparked outrage among the family and advocacy groups, who view the suggestion as deeply insensitive.

The remark was allegedly made by an official working in the Superintendent's secretariat to the family on June 4, the day after the local elections. The official, who had been communicating with the family regarding the teacher's death, is said to have suggested sending congratulations to Superintendent Do Sung-hoon. The Incheon Office of Education stated that the official's intention was not to solicit congratulations but to discuss how the teacher's case would be handled moving forward.

However, the 'Emergency Response Committee for the Truth of the Incheon Special Education Teacher's Death' strongly criticized the official's statement. The committee argued that the office, which they claim pushed the teacher to her death and left the family in a desperate situation, showed a lack of empathy. They highlighted that the teacher had urgently requested support, including the expansion of her special education class, but the office allegedly ignored these pleas, instead issuing directives that pushed teachers to the brink.

The committee demanded the dismissal of the official involved. The deceased teacher, who worked at an elementary school in Incheon, was found dead at her home in October. She had been solely responsible for a special education class with an increasing number of students, despite her repeated requests for additional staffing and resources. The Ministry of Personnel Management has officially recognized her death as a line-of-duty casualty.