'Joo Homin's Son Case' Enters Fourth Year... School Rights Protection Bureau Steps In to Support Special Education Teacher

Legal Battle Ongoing Since 2022
Additional Experts in Law and Counseling to Be Assigned

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has decided to provide close support by assigning a School Rights Protection Officer to the special education teacher who was acquitted in the appeals trial after being indicted for allegedly emotionally abusing the son of webtoon artist Joo Homin. As the case, which began in 2022, has reached the Supreme Court due to the prosecution's appeal, the education office has stepped in to ensure the teacher does not have to bear the legal and psychological burden alone.

Earlier, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education launched 300 dedicated school rights protection officers in August, the first nationwide. They were composed of personnel from various fields, including former and current teachers, lawyers, doctors, counseling experts, and police officers. Photo by Minseok Ahn, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. Yonhap News Agency

On September 15, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced that the School Rights Protection Team, which reports directly to the superintendent, recently decided to classify the special education teacher, Mr. A, as a case involving “alleged child abuse” and to provide direct support. As a first step, they have assigned one superintendent-level School Rights Protection Officer to work full-time with Mr. A. This measure was taken in light of the seriousness of the situation, given that the case has continued for several years and is still pending a Supreme Court verdict.

Going forward, professional personnel, such as lawyers selected from among the 300 School Rights Protection Officers recruited through open selection, will also be additionally assigned. Mr. A will receive one-on-one support, including legal consulting, counseling, and psychological care as needed. In 2022, Mr. A was indicted without detention for alleged emotional abuse after telling Joo's then 9-year-old son in a customized study class at an elementary school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, statements such as: "Your manners are very bad," "I really can't stand you," and "I don't like you."

Webtoon artist Jo Homin. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Joo's side gave his child a recorder, which was used to record classroom conversations. Based on these recordings, Mr. A was reported to the authorities on a child abuse charge, launching the investigation. The court of first instance admitted the recordings as evidence and deferred a fine of 2 million won for Mr. A. However, the appellate court's decision last May was different.

The appeals court ruled that the recording and transcript constituted "undisclosed conversations between others" as prohibited under the Protection of Communications Secrets Act, and therefore could not be admitted as evidence. The criminal complaint and testimony secured on the basis of the recording were also deemed inadmissible as secondary evidence, reversing the lower court's decision and acquitting Mr. A. The prosecution, dissatisfied with the ruling, appealed, and the case is now awaiting a final decision from the Supreme Court.

In August, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education became the first in the country to launch a team of 300 dedicated School Rights Protection Officers. The team comprises professionals from a range of backgrounds, including current and former teachers, lawyers, doctors, counseling specialists, and police officers. Upon receiving a teaching rights-related report, the School Rights Protection Team categorizes cases as “alleged child abuse,” “interference with educational activities,” or “malicious complaints,” and determines the need for direct support. The core of this system is to provide one-on-one guidance to teachers suffering from violations of educators’ rights, from initial response, fact-checking, legal consulting, psychological counseling and care, to post-case follow-up. According to the Gyeonggi Teachers’ Union, which has been supporting Mr. A’s case, continuous support is essential, as the case has dragged on since 2022 and has become a burden too great for one teacher to bear alone.

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