Record Number of Seoul Educators Fired for Corruption in 2010

Education is big business in South Korea.  People who are financially motivated do go into teaching and academic administration because there is so much money to be made and spent in public schools.  A record 67 educators in Seoul (just in Seoul) were fired last year for various corruption charges.

Yonhap:

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- A total of 67 educators in Seoul were dismissed last year for their suspected involvement in various corrupt activities, such as receiving kickbacks for giving promotions, the city's top education authority said Sunday.

The number includes 15 school principals, one vice principal, four supervisors and two teachers, who were removed from duty on charges of dishonest behavior in personnel reshuffles, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

A former superintendent of the education office was embroiled in scandal last year after revelations that he received millions of won in exchange for promoting senior education officials. He was sentenced to four years in jail.

Another 20 teachers were dismissed for their involvement in a large bribery scandal that put 157 senior school officials in the capital area under investigation for arranging school trips with designated bus operators and accommodation facilities.

Other teachers were fired for corrupt behavior involving construction projects at schools, excessive corporal punishment and even sex with a middle school student.

Most of those dismissed have filed complaints to the education ministry but only two or three have had their penalties reduced, the education office said.

"Two of the dismissed teachers whose requests were rejected have already filed suit (against us) and the others also appear likely to go to court," said an official at the education office. "We are preparing to face them in court."

The Korea Times added this to the story:

Some twenty staff have been removed from their posts for involvement in the “field trip scandal,” in which 157 principals and vice principals around Seoul were given kickbacks to choose and work with one particular company for school events and field trips. 

It seems like if you owned or operated a busing company or a place the depended on the business of schools and children, you would be desperate to find a way to get the business of public schools.  The problem with corruption is that many people who would normally like to play fair and run an honest business, will break the rules and become corrupt if everyone else is doing it and they feel like the playing field is not fair for them.

I hope this record number indicated that Seoul is taking corruption charges more serious, and not that their has been a sharp increase in corruption.  I am guessing there has always been corruption, but Seoul education authorities are just finally now becoming more bold about taking down senior officials who obviously do not care about the law or what is best for their students.