South Korea's education system, notorious for its intense competitiveness, faced another scandal as police arrested a high school teacher and the father of a student for attempting to steal exam papers. The break-in occurred at 01:20 local time on July 4 in Andong, a city southeast of Seoul, but their plan was thwarted when the school's security alarm triggered. The teacher now faces charges of accepting bribes and trespassing, while the father is suspected of trespassing. Additionally, a school facilities manager has been apprehended for allegedly aiding in the theft and permitting unlawful entry.
Authorities revealed that the teacher had provided private tutoring to the student, which is prohibited for teachers actively employed in schools in South Korea. Although the student reportedly achieved excellent grades, their academic success's relation to prior exam paper theft incidents remains unclear. Police are also looking into possible financial transactions between the father and teacher, believing this may not have been their first illegal attempt as shared by local broadcaster KBS.
This case is part of a troubling trend in South Korea, where the pressure of high-stakes examinations often leads to scandals and unethical practices. Earlier in June, police began investigating the leakage of exam answers for a national English test shared via an online platform. In February, authorities detained 249 individuals, including teachers, involved in selling mock questions for the crucial Suneung exam, while in late 2023, students filed lawsuits against the government after their tests were unexpectedly shortened. The situation highlights the profound stress levels experienced by South Korean youth, among the highest in the developed world for those aged 11 to 15.
