Bucheon kindergarten principal suspended for two months after teacher's death

A private kindergarten principal in Bucheon received a two-month suspension in connection with the death of a teacher who continued working after an influenza diagnosis, Korean outlets reported on October 11. Gyeonggi's education office made the decision at a disciplinary committee meeting in August, according to Education Ministry material obtained by lawmaker Gang Gyeong-suk (강경숙), a member of the National Assembly's education committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Education authorities judged that forging and using the teacher's resignation letter and neglecting staff-duty management breached the duty of diligence, Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Seoul Shinmun reported. The Bucheon education support office had audited the principal and requested severe disciplinary action. Gang criticised the suspension as too lenient, saying the teacher had worked despite a fever of 39.8 degrees, and called for another special audit and a firm system to prevent recurrence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The teacher, identified in the reports only as B, was diagnosed with influenza B on January 27 but continued working for three days. The teacher's symptoms worsened, and B died on February 14 after hospital treatment. The resignation letter was dated February 10, four days before the death. The reports said B was in intensive care at that time and unable to write the letter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]

Separately, the principal, identified as A, was indicted without detention in August on charges of forging and using a private document. A is accused of forging the resignation letter and submitting it to the Bucheon education support office. Prosecutors sought six months in prison at the September 15 closing hearing. The first-instance verdict is scheduled for October 29 at the Bucheon branch of Incheon District Court, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]