Three High School Girls in Busan Found Dead… Parents Demand Instructor Replacement Due to Conflict

In relation to the tragic death of three high school girls at an arts high school in Busan, some parents have claimed that they demanded a change in an instructor due to ongoing conflicts prior to the incident.

However, it has been confirmed that the school only took action to separate the instructor after the fatal incident, which has sparked controversy.

"Conflicts Began from the New Semester"… Parents Request Investigation from Police

On the 24th, the Parents' Association of School A in Busan held a press conference at the Busan City Council briefing room, claiming, "In January, 11 out of 14 external instructors in the dance department were replaced, and conflicts between the new instructor and students began immediately after the new semester started."

The parents' association continued, "We requested an investigation into the instructor's problematic behavior on the 4th, and currently, the investigation is underway." They added, "After the fatal incident, we demanded that the school take measures to separate the instructor from the students, and only then was the instructor excluded from teaching."

The director of the dance academy attended by one of the deceased students, Mr. Lee, stated, "The children began to express discomfort with the new instructor's classes from the beginning of the semester," and mentioned, "I once advised them not to listen to their desire to avoid after-school classes."

"Good Academic Performance"… Suicide Notes Express Stress

The suicide notes left by the deceased students contained expressions of 'academic stress and pressure regarding their career paths,' but it has been reported that their academic achievements were high. Mr. Lee explained, "In the case of student B, she received top scores in various competitions and even ranked first in the school practical assessments," adding, "It’s hard to believe that she took extreme measures due to poor academic performance."

In response, the parents' association asserted, "This should not be dismissed as simple personal circumstances; the structural causes must be thoroughly investigated," urging the police and educational authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

Intensified Educational Office Audit and Police Investigation… Transition of School Corporation

The Haeundae Police in Busan stated on the 24th, "We are currently investigating the whereabouts and motives of the three deceased girls by interviewing their families and acquaintances," and added, "We plan to conduct a digital forensic examination of their mobile phones with the consent of the families." Based on the forensic results, the police aim to clarify the specific circumstances and causes of death.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education will also begin a special audit of the high school from the 25th. School A has been operating under a provisional board due to legal disputes between the founder and the chairman since 2014, and it has been reported that conflicts between the corporation and school members have persisted.

An official from the Office of Education's audit office explained, "Since it has been operated in the controlled system, complaints have been consistently raised, and we plan to conduct a comprehensive audit to grasp the structural background of this tragic incident."

In conjunction with this, the Office of Education is also moving to replace the board of directors of the school corporation. They recently recommended successors for four provisional board directors who resigned to the Ministry of Education's Private Education Dispute Mediation Commission. These directors consist of three educational experts and one administrative expert, while the remaining current directors include lawyers and accountants.

Image source: Parents' Association of the Arts High School in Busan and academy instructors held a press conference at the Busan City Council, raising concerns about the deaths of three students from the school. / News1, unrelated stock photo / gettyimagesbank