Teachers up in arms against sexist principal

By Kang Shin-who

Staff reporter

A group of teachers at an elementary school are calling for stern punishment against their principal who allegedly abused them, making sexist remarks.

According to the elementary school located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, 28 teachers have filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) against the school head, claiming he habitually insulted female teachers.

Only two teachers at the school were unable to sign the petition for personal reasons.

According to the teachers, the headmaster who was appointed at the school in March used to make “unacceptable” remarks to female teachers such as “Are you a virgin?” “Are you pregnant?” and “I heard you can look prettier if you lose your virginity.”

He also asked a female teacher whose wisdom teeth (love teeth in Korean) needed treatment, “Do your teeth hurt because your lover sucks your (teeth) too much?” and “You are in trouble because you are not married (even though you are old enough).”

Apart from these verbal attacks, the principal unilaterally designated a casino in Gangwon Province earlier this month as a destination for a teachers’ membership meeting. He also forced teachers who didn’t want to participate in the meeting to write excuse letters.

He also allegedly requested teachers to collect money for his casino and transportation fees, and forced female teachers to serve him liquor.

The principal was once recognized by President Lee Myung-bak in 2008 for his initiative in a “violence-free” school project.