By Lee Kyung-min
Five teachers at a public high school in Seoul, including the principal, face dismissal for alleged repeated sexual molestation of female teachers and students.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said Monday it would ask its disciplinary committee to punish the five male teachers severely. They are expected to be dismissed or suspended, and those dismissed will never be able to teach again.
The decision follows the office’s month-long investigation into the high school, the name of which is being withheld. It has been alleged that the offenders have sexually abused female teachers and students for more than two years since the school opened in 2013.
According to the investigation, four teachers sexually harassed the victims. They were suspended after the allegations emerged, and are being investigated for possible criminal charges for sexual harassment and molestation.
The principal also allegedly tried to hide or cover up the cases, not reporting suspected sexual abuse cases to law enforcement authorities. He just told the teachers not to touch girls, according to the investigation. The principal, who is also suspected of sexually molesting a female teacher, has been suspended.
The offenders are likely to be dismissed under a revised law that went into effect in April. According to the law, teachers at elementary, middle and high schools and college professors are subject to dismissal if they commit sex crimes.
Separately from the investigation, the office is also determining whether other teachers or officials at the office had problems dealing with cases involving the school.
In a related move, SMOE Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon announced tougher measures against sex abuse at schools earlier this month.
Under the measure, teachers with a single sex offense will be removed, and their personal information will be disclosed online.
The office also plans to launch a special investigation immediately and have any accused teacher removed from his or her post even before a police investigation ends or a prosecution indictment is issued.
The office will set up a hotline through which victims can report crimes or consult anonymously to avoid being pressured by school authorities.