Educators Apprehended for Burglarizing School to Obtain Final Exam Answers
In the heart of South Korea's education system, a high-pressure environment has been disrupted by a shocking scandal. On the night of July 4, 2025, a dramatic break-in occurred at a girls' high school in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The intruders were a 31-year-old former high school teacher and a 48-year-old parent, who were attempting to steal final exam papers[1][2].
The school's alarm system activated, alerting authorities to the break-in. Investigators uncovered evidence of an ongoing scheme in which the parent allegedly paid the teacher approximately $14,000 over a two-year period to provide test contents before each exam[1]. The teacher, who had privately tutored the student (an illegal practice for active teachers), admitted to leaking exam papers starting from the student's first year in high school[1].
The student, a high-performing valedictorian, performed poorly without access to stolen tests. Consequences for her include expulsion, nullification of her academic records, and cancellation and assignment of zeros to her previous exam scores[1][3]. The student was booked without detention for obstruction of official duties but stated she was aware something was wrong with the tests but did not know the papers had been stolen[1].
Both the mother and former teacher have been detained. An arrest warrant was issued for the mother after the former teacher’s detention[1]. The teacher faces charges including accepting bribes and trespassing, while the parent faces trespassing and related charges[2][4]. The school facilities manager was arrested for aiding the break-in and tampering with CCTV footage[2][4].
The scandal has raised systemic issues in South Korea’s educational integrity framework. The teacher reportedly visited the school at least seven times during exam periods, even after leaving the faculty[2]. The provincial education office is conducting a thorough audit to review broader institutional failures[2].
The incident has reignited national conversation on South Korea's high-pressure educational culture. The case may prompt systemic reforms, from tighter school security to stricter oversight of teacher-parent ties and vocational ethics in education[2]. The scandal puts the spotlight on a high-pressure education system that may drive desperate measures.
Police continue investigations, focusing on financial transactions and detailed timing of paper thefts. Authorities are expected to interrogate the student, possibly on obstruction charges. Broader disciplinary action could follow against the school and teachers found complicit.
Sources:
- Yonhap News
- Korea JoongAng Daily
- The Korea Herald
- CNN
- The shocking scandal in South Korea's education system, involving a teacher and a parent stealing final exam papers in Korea, has highlighted systemic issues, particularly in the country's educational integrity framework.
- The fallout from this incident in Asia has reignited a national conversation about South Korea's high-pressure educational culture, and it may lead to systemic reforms, ranging from tighter school security to stricter oversight of teacher-parent ties and vocational ethics in education.
- The scandal has also brought to light the general news of financial transactions and the detailed timing of paper thefts, with authorities focusing on these aspects in their ongoing investigations.
- This case involving crime and justice in Korea not only involves charges against the teacher for accepting bribes and trespassing and the parent for trespassing and related charges, but also the school facilities manager for aiding the break-in and tampering with CCTV footage.
