Elementary school head under probe over donation

By Kang Shin-who

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education launched Monday an investigation into allegations that the principal of Seonyu Elementary School in Yeongdeungpo District has extorted money from members of a parent representative group.

The parents belonging to the school operation board are accusing the principal of requesting illicit money and making sexual remarks.

However, the principal is denying all allegations, claiming the chief of the parents group is trying to defame him. All of the seven members from the board of representative parents resigned their positions in protest.

The education office is questioning the parents and the principal, who is identified by his surname, Kim.

Kim is alleged to have told the parents to pay 5 million won for the construction of a monument last April and to pay for meals during a meeting with school teachers.

In addition, parents are claiming that Kim used the donated money as he wished without discussing it with the board members.

Moreover, parents claimed in the written petition that Kim made inappropriate sexist remarks several times.

For example, he said he didn’t drink liquor unless women were around, they alleged.

In a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Kim said, “The chief of the parents’ group was asked to resign from the position as we found he is a member of the Grand National Party. It was not right as education should be free from politics. The father is trying to spread rumors and humiliate me, together with the other parents, who are also close to him.”