On Sept. 7, 1998, a Korean man walked into Sunchon Boys High School, located in
the South of Korea near Kwangju, and asked if there was an American teacher employed there. Due to a lack of security or concern by the Korea staff, the inturder soon found the American teacher.
The man engaged him in a brief conversation, then proceeded to stab him in the back as he was walking away, going down the stairs from the second floor. The victim, Scott James Kennedy, 33, from North Dakota, died upon arrival at a hospital in Sunchon.
When interrogated, the attacker said that he murdered Scott because he didn't want Americans in Korea teaching Korean children. It was also noted that he said foreigners should not be allowed to hold jobs here while many Koreans are unemployed.
Actually, I heard earlier from someone else that the victim was a woman and that the murderer was a graduate of that high school. I had only heard bits and pieces of this story, of varying degrees of veracity, and have been trying to get more information for the past year. However, with the high turnover rate of not only foreigners here but also of Koreans in public schools---they're out every four years, if I'm not mistaken---so far little has turned up.
The message was posted on a board called "English Teachers Attacking Corrupt Koreans," so that's certainly a filter on the details. Nevertheless, it's more information than most of us had yesterday.
6 comments:
Brian, my understanding is young temporary or "contract" teachers may not work at any one school for more than four years without being made permanent employees. Tenured teachers, however, can stay until the usual retirement age of 62.
I am told that these days it is very difficult for young Korean teachers to find a permanent job.
That's terrible about the murder.
Hmm, I'm pretty sure that teachers are rotated out every four years, and that they must leave the area every eight. This is to help teachers develop skills in various different areas---city, rural, etc.---but also, from what I've read, to deal with corruption and teachers accepting gifts.
Ah so, this is an issue on which public and private schools differ. Thanks.
Shortly after the murder, I read about the incident in one of the English papers through a letter to the editor from the murder victim's friend. The message post sounds very much like the letter, which was probably the original source. I have mentioned the murder in a few K-blog comments.
Yeah, I posted about this story last April, writing that I only knew of it through your two mentions on the Marmot's Hole (and maybe once on the Metropolitician).
I remember reading about the incident just after it happened. Then it was hushed up--or the story died quickly and quietly, whichever you prefer. I remember wanting to know more about the the guy they arrested, but no news ever came out (at least in the English press). He was crazy and that was all you heard.
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