No Signs of Violence... Teacher at Lifelong Education Facility Involved in 'Seobu District Court Riot' "Disciplinary Action Underway"

Among the defendants prosecuted for their involvement in the Seoul Western District Court intrusion incident, it has been identified that a teacher working at an academic recognition facility in Seoul is also included.

Scene of disturbance at the Western District Court. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 17th, Yonhap News reported, citing the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and others, that a man in his 30s, Mr. A, who worked as a teacher at an academic recognition facility in Seoul, was arrested and indicted last month in connection with the illegal violent occupation incident at the Western District Court that occurred on January 19. Mr. A is known to have worked as a teacher at a lifelong education facility recognizing high school level academic credentials in Seoul.

A school official stated, "The staff, who were known to have no violent tendencies, were very surprised to hear the news," and added, "After receiving a police official document, the school is currently proceeding with disciplinary procedures through its own disciplinary committee." The official also mentioned, "Although January 19 was during the vacation period, he was on regular duty." However, they declined to provide further details, saying, "Disciplinary matters are personal information and cannot be disclosed."

Teachers at academic recognition facilities are called 'teachers,' but they differ from teachers at kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The facilities independently select and manage those with teaching certificates, and these teachers are not public officials.

Academic recognition facilities are lifelong education institutions under the city education office, where learners who missed opportunities for formal education can have their academic credentials recognized through graduation without taking the qualification exam. Generally, 'adult learners' who gained educational opportunities later than typical school-age students mainly attend these facilities. In Seoul, there are a total of nine such facilities: one elementary, three general middle and high schools, four specialized middle and high schools, and one specialized arts high school.

Earlier, 62 people including Mr. A were arrested and indicted for storming the Western District Court in outrage after an arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon Suk-yeol in January. Due to the large number of defendants, the court is conducting the trials in divided sessions. On the 10th, 23 defendants had their first trial, and on the morning of this day, a trial session was held for 20 defendants.

The defendants’ occupations are diverse, including self-employed individuals, company employees, YouTubers, and teacher Mr. A. Last month, a man in his 30s from Seoul National University who worked as a securities employee in Yeouido was also arrested and indicted for participating in the intrusion, drawing public attention. The employee was forcibly dismissed from the securities firm he worked for, and as this news spread quickly, the Yeouido securities district was momentarily stirred.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.