A private kindergarten teacher in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, died after continuing to work for three days despite showing flu symptoms accompanied by high fever. The bereaved family has raised forgery allegations, claiming the kindergarten submitted a resignation letter dated four days before her death, and the case has drawn public attention as education authorities launched an audit.
The Bucheon Office of Education said on the 26th that it has been conducting an audit of the kindergarten since the 25th of this month. The family of the deceased teacher, identified only as "A," a woman in her 20s, visited the education office the previous day and reviewed the resignation letter submitted by the kindergarten. The letter bore the date of the 10th of last month — four days before A's death — along with her signature. However, A was receiving treatment in a hospital intensive care unit at that time. A's father told Yonhap News, "It makes no sense that a resignation letter was submitted at a time when my daughter was on the verge of death."
The Bucheon Office of Education is investigating the overall operations of the kindergarten, including the circumstances surrounding the resignation letter and whether it was forged, but has maintained that "specific details cannot be disclosed."
A was diagnosed with influenza B on January 27 but continued to report to work for three days. During that period, her body temperature rose to 39.8 degrees Celsius and her fever and vomiting symptoms worsened, leading her to leave work early on the afternoon of January 30. She was admitted to a hospital intensive care unit starting January 31 and died on the 14th of the following month.
