On the afternoon of Sept. 1, papers are taped to the front door of an elementary school in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, in memory of A, an elementary school teacher who died the previous day after falling from her apartment. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) —A tragic incident unfolded as an elementary school teacher lost her life after falling from the rooftop of an apartment building.
According to the Goyang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, Ms. A, a teacher in her late 30s, fell to her demise from the 28th floor of an apartment complex located in Deokyang-gu, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, around 7 p.m. on August 31st.
A police official has stated that there are no indications of criminal involvement, leading authorities to believe that Ms. A took this extreme step of her own volition.
The bereaved family members have conveyed to the police that Ms. A had been grappling with the challenging balancing act of raising her children while working at the school.
Ms. A, a seasoned educator with 14 years of experience, served as a sixth-grade teacher at the elementary school and had recently returned from sick leave, which had extended until the day before the incident, as confirmed by the district education office.
The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding her tragic death, including conducting forensic analysis of her cell phone.
In a statement, the Seoul Teachers’ Union asserted, “Contrary to some reports, the deceased had not encountered any significant issues in her family or parenting responsibilities.
However, during her tenure as the homeroom teacher for sixth graders this year, she faced considerable challenges in managing the classroom environment.
This led to significant mental distress, prompting her to take sick leave early in the school year.” They have called for a thorough and transparent investigation to uncover the truth.
Less than two months prior, in July, another young teacher took their life on the premises of Seoyi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, sending shockwaves throughout society.
Since then, the plight of educators has garnered considerable attention, spurring a movement among teachers to designate September 4th, which marks the 49th anniversary of the aforementioned teacher’s passing, as a “Stop Public Education Day.”
Teachers are also opting to utilize their annual leave to participate in rallies to raise awareness about the challenges they face.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
