The Jeju school corporation where teacher Hyun Seung-jun worked, who tragically died after leaving a note about conflicts with a student’s family, has only delivered a reprimand to the principal and effectively no punishment to the vice-principal. In response to what they deemed inadequate disciplinary action, the Jeju Provincial Office of Education has initiated a retrial process. The bereaved family has accused both the principal and vice-principal of dereliction of duty, expressing frustration over the perceived failure of the school to adequately protect the teacher from harassment and bullying by the students’ relatives.

The situation unfolded after the Jeju Provincial Office of Education found the school responsible for not properly protecting Hyun from complaints lodged by the families of students. During this review, the office recommended light disciplinary actions against both the principal and vice-principal. However, the school's disciplinary committee dismissed even these mild penalties, opting instead for a reprimand for the principal and a minimal, administrative warning for the vice-principal. This decision has drawn severe criticism from the family and local teacher’s organizations, who argue that such light penalties fail to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation or hold the school administration accountable.

As the Jeju Provincial Office plans to reassess the disciplinary measures, the community's attention remains fixed on the implications of these events for teachers’ welfare and the responsibilities of school administrators in protecting their staff from undue stress and harassment. The case has sparked an ongoing discourse about the need for better protective measures for educators within the school system, particularly as the pressures of modern educational environments continue to mount. The outcome of the retrial will not only affect those directly involved but also set a precedent regarding the treatment of teachers in similar situations.