In South Korea, a high school teacher and a parent have recently been arrested for their alleged involvement in a midnight heist aimed at stealing exam papers. The duo attempted the break-in at around 01:20 local time on July 4 at a school located in Andong, a city situated southeast of Seoul. Their plan was thwarted when the school's security alarm was triggered, prompting immediate intervention from law enforcement.
The teacher now faces charges including accepting bribes and trespassing, while the father of the student involved is charged solely with trespassing. Additionally, a facilities manager at the school has been arrested for allegedly aiding the pair by allowing the illegal entry into the premises. Reports indicate that the teacher was privately tutoring the student in question, a practice that is prohibited for teachers actively employed at schools in South Korea.
The student, who had consistently achieved top grades, has raised suspicions about the legitimacy of their academic record, particularly in light of ongoing school exam-related scandals across the country. Authorities suspect that financial transactions may have taken place between the teacher and the parent, with speculation that their criminal activities might extend beyond this singular incident.
This case adds to a troubling pattern of exam-related controversies in South Korea, a nation with a notorious reputation for its hyper-competitive educational environment. Just last month, investigations began into the leak of answers for a nationwide English exam through an online platform. Earlier in the year, a massive operation led to the arrest of 249 individuals, including numerous teachers, for disseminating mock exam questions intended for use in high-stakes preparatory academies. Furthermore, a lawsuit was filed by dozens of students who claimed that teachers accidentally shortened their tests by 90 seconds, exacerbating the already high-stress levels that South Korean students experience.
As the nation grapples with these incidents, South Korea continues to rank among industrialized countries with some of the highest youth stress levels, raising concerns about the broader implications for student mental health and educational fairness.
