Rumors about teacher-student rape spread online

By You Soo-sun

Police have begun investigating rumors concerning a female teacher charged with the statutory rape of a 12-year-old elementary student.

According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency Wednesday, rumors about the 32-year-old teacher and her family have spread online. This includes false information about the offender’s name, educational background, family relations and the wrong picture.

Police began investigating after receiving a complaint from a woman who had been falsely identified as the offender in the case. Photos of her face were spread on the internet, with people identifying her as the teacher. Police confirmed she is completely unrelated to the case.

They are requesting all posters to remove the “information” they posted related to the case. They are also searching for the person who initiated the rumors. The offender and school have also hired lawyers seeking to remove any related online posts.

The victim of the case has also come under attack, with speculation about his identity and involvement in the case. After the offender testified the relationship was one of "mutual consent," online portals were flooded with comments accusing the student of being a “gold digger.” Some even remarked he had received “proper sexual education.”

Some tried to identify the victim through photos previously posted on the school website, pointing out “good looking” students as the victim of the case. The school temporarily closed down the site.

According to an official from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, the victim is receiving psychological counseling at a hospital. The official also noted there are still many students unaware of the case and requested others to refrain from making presumptions.