At Jeonju M Elementary School in North Jeolla Province, controversy continues after a teacher who had filed a criminal complaint against a parent was later assigned as the homeroom teacher for that same parent’s child.

The student, who directly appealed to Jeonju City Hall about the pain caused by this situation, recorded the following in a school diary entry on September 16:

“Today during class, the teacher was taking graduation photos in the classroom… The teacher said that only those who did not take the graduation photo should solve the math test questions. I was upset because everyone should do it, but only I had to because I didn’t take the photo…”

The diary continued:

“During the sixth period English class, a KakaoTalk message popped up on the smartboard in front of my desk saying, ‘How much does it cost to file a lawsuit?’ from OOO. The homeroom teacher, standing in front of my desk, didn’t realize her own text was exposed until afterward, then hurriedly deleted it.”

The student’s mother explained:

“My child, now in sixth grade, is still undergoing psychological counseling. It is frightening for them to face a homeroom teacher every day who had once sued me. The counseling specialist’s opinion is that my child should be separated from this teacher. Please allow my child to attend class comfortably.”

She added:

“If my child can go to school in peace, I don’t care if I’m investigated 100 times because the teacher reported me. All I want is for my child to safely finish school. I also hope for the implementation of the co-homeroom system, so my child doesn’t have to leave school sick just to avoid this teacher.”

Parent’s Background and Alleged Smear Campaign

The mother, a university professor, came under public attack and was labeled an “abusive parent” after requesting clarification regarding her child’s student records and making repeated calls to the school. However, an investigation by Jeonbuk Education News revealed that contrary to claims of 61 calls, the actual number of phone calls she made to the school in 2024 was only 25.

In several calls, she simply requested official documents to support her child’s therapy, to which school staff repeatedly responded, “We’re busy,” later telling her to “file an official complaint.”

Regarding accusations that she demanded changes to the official student record, she clarified:

“I never asked for corrections. Most of my calls were the teacher explaining the grading standards, since I had confused the student record with the parent communication report. But I was still vilified as a reckless parent demanding illegal alterations.”

This episode, she argued, shows how a parent’s basic inquiries can be twisted into malicious rumors—revealing how the educational community itself can become unsafe.

Fallout and Continued Struggles

As a result of protests staged by teachers’ unions—including funeral wreaths and banners—the mother was even suspended from her university teaching job. However, the suspension was overturned in court, allowing her to return to teaching.

Journalists also faced pressure. One Jeonbuk Education News reporter, after interviewing the teacher in question, recalled leaving the school and saying, “The union shouldn’t be doing this.” But in a union press release, it was falsely claimed that the reporter had visited the school together with the parent.

The teacher herself had posted on social media in December, boasting about filing charges against the mother and announcing a transfer to Jeonju M Elementary. She wrote that she expected to become homeroom teacher of a “PD Notebook class” (a nickname referencing a past TV investigation program about teacher misconduct). She admitted being afraid of meeting parents as a teacher who had pressed charges.

Despite public claims from the union that the parent was reported to police again this year, the mother confirmed with authorities that “no such case exists.”

Political Support and Counter-Protest

At the teacher’s protest tent near the provincial education office, she was supported by education superintendent candidates and progressive politicians, including former Jeonju National University of Education professor Cheon Ho-seong, former union leader Noh Byung-seop, and a lawmaker from the Progressive Party.

In response, the parent held a one-person protest holding a placard that read:

“Authority built on lies against parents is fake authority! True authority comes from protecting students’ rights.”

Journalist’s First Encounter

The newspaper first met the student’s mother through a phone call from a union-affiliated high school teacher, who was active in a human rights group. When the reporter arrived, the mother’s eyes were so bloodshot from stress that it was difficult to look at her. Breaking down in tears, she said:

“For two years, I didn’t realize my child was suffering. I saw my child on TV saying, ‘The teacher is lying,’ and I can’t forgive myself as a mother.”

The interview was cut short when she suddenly rushed out, answering a phone call from her child who had said, “I want to die.”

Why the Reporting Continued

Until then, Jeonbuk Education News had maintained a cooperative relationship with teachers’ unions. But the urgency and severity of the M Elementary and earlier “Red Card” case convinced the newsroom to keep reporting despite smears and cyberattacks.

As the paper stated:

“Even if it takes time, the day will come when it is revealed who did what, and why. Our responsibility is to ensure that unimaginable suffering for students and parents is not repeated.”