Bucheon kindergarten director suspended for forging deceased teacher's resignation

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has issued a two-month suspension to the director of a private kindergarten in Bucheon. The disciplinary action follows the death of a teacher in her 20s, who died after working through a severe case of Type B influenza with a fever reaching 39.8 degrees Celsius.

Authorities determined the director violated the duty of sincerity under the State Public Officials Act by forging the deceased teacher's resignation letter and neglecting service management duties. The forged document listed a resignation date of February 10, a time when the teacher was incapacitated in an intensive care unit and unable to write.

Investigations by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union revealed the teacher had been performing excessive workloads, including preparing for kindergarten presentations, even after working hours.

Representative Kang Kyung-sook criticized the suspension as a “lenient punishment” and called for a special audit and the establishment of prevention systems. Separately, the director faces criminal charges for forgery and is scheduled to receive a first-instance court verdict on the 29th.