By Bahk Eun-ji
Teachers' groups are calling for a thorough investigation and heavy punishment for an elementary school principal who was arrested for allegedly installing a hidden camera in a restroom for female faculty members.
Members of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations and its Gyeonggi Province branch issued a joint statement, Friday, calling for strong punishment of the principal to discourage others from committing such voyeuristic sex crimes.
"We were truly shocked that the most non-education-related incident that should never happen in a school, which was done by a school head," they said in a statement.
They said the principal shamed and embarrassed all educators nationwide. "Teachers who violate teaching ethics, such as committing sex-related crimes, must be permanently excluded from teaching jobs to protect the honor and pride of the absolute majority of teachers who focus silently solely on educating students," they said.
The Gyeonggi branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) also demanded the provincial education office dismiss those involved and come up with measures to protect the victims.
"The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education should thoroughly investigate whether the principal has committed any other sex-related crimes against school staff and students, and promptly provide support for the victims," the KTU said in a statement.
"In addition, we should strive to come up with measures to promote gender equality in schools so that we could prevent the recurrence of such crimes."
The union of the Gyeonggi branch urged the provincial education office to crack down on illegal hidden cameras in all schools of the province in cooperation with investigative agencies.
"We have pointed out several times that it is ineffective to conduct searches for spycams in schools while disclosing the inspection schedule to the faculty in advance, but the education office did not listen and took a lax attitude," the KTU said, demanding an official apology from the education office over this incident.
Meanwhile, a local court issued an arrest warrant for the 57-year-old, whose name was withheld, Saturday, for violating the law on sex crimes, saying he was likely to flee or destroy evidence, according to Anyang Dongan Police.
The principal allegedly installed a spycam inside a tissue box next to a toilet in the restroom for female teachers at his school in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, which was found by a teacher.
The principal allegedly tried to dissuade teachers from reporting the incident to police, but the teachers reported it anyway.
The police, suspicious of the principal's reluctance, talked with him and found out he installed the camera. He claimed he bought the camera for security purposes and installed it the previous day to check if it works, and he had no intention to commit a sex crime, according to the police.
Police are conducting a digital forensic analysis of the camera and it hasn't been confirmed what kind of footage was found in it. However, a search of the principal's cellphone turned up six video clips and three photos of women's body parts which he allegedly shot secretly. These were not from the restroom, and police confirmed the identity of one of the victims.
Teachers' groups are calling for a thorough investigation and heavy punishment for an elementary school principal who was arrested for allegedly installing a hidden camera in a restroom for female faculty members.
Members of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations and its Gyeonggi Province branch issued a joint statement, Friday, calling for strong punishment of the principal to discourage others from committing such voyeuristic sex crimes.
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| A spycam installed in a tissue box was found recently in a restroom for female teachers at an elementary school in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The principal of the school who installed the camera was arrested, Saturday. Courtesy of Gyeonggi teachers' union |
They said the principal shamed and embarrassed all educators nationwide. "Teachers who violate teaching ethics, such as committing sex-related crimes, must be permanently excluded from teaching jobs to protect the honor and pride of the absolute majority of teachers who focus silently solely on educating students," they said.
The Gyeonggi branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) also demanded the provincial education office dismiss those involved and come up with measures to protect the victims.
"The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education should thoroughly investigate whether the principal has committed any other sex-related crimes against school staff and students, and promptly provide support for the victims," the KTU said in a statement.
"In addition, we should strive to come up with measures to promote gender equality in schools so that we could prevent the recurrence of such crimes."
The union of the Gyeonggi branch urged the provincial education office to crack down on illegal hidden cameras in all schools of the province in cooperation with investigative agencies.
"We have pointed out several times that it is ineffective to conduct searches for spycams in schools while disclosing the inspection schedule to the faculty in advance, but the education office did not listen and took a lax attitude," the KTU said, demanding an official apology from the education office over this incident.
Meanwhile, a local court issued an arrest warrant for the 57-year-old, whose name was withheld, Saturday, for violating the law on sex crimes, saying he was likely to flee or destroy evidence, according to Anyang Dongan Police.
The principal allegedly installed a spycam inside a tissue box next to a toilet in the restroom for female teachers at his school in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, which was found by a teacher.
The principal allegedly tried to dissuade teachers from reporting the incident to police, but the teachers reported it anyway.
The police, suspicious of the principal's reluctance, talked with him and found out he installed the camera. He claimed he bought the camera for security purposes and installed it the previous day to check if it works, and he had no intention to commit a sex crime, according to the police.
Police are conducting a digital forensic analysis of the camera and it hasn't been confirmed what kind of footage was found in it. However, a search of the principal's cellphone turned up six video clips and three photos of women's body parts which he allegedly shot secretly. These were not from the restroom, and police confirmed the identity of one of the victims.
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