A ruling on whether to recognize the death of a kindergarten teacher in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, who continued reporting to work despite flu symptoms, as a work-related injury is expected soon.
Teacher in Her 20s Dies After Working Three Days With Confirmed Flu
According to the Korea Teachers Pension on Sunday, the pension fund held a benefits review committee meeting the previous day to deliberate on whether the death of a teacher surnamed A in February qualifies as a work-related injury. A decision is expected as early as this week. If recognized as a work-related injury, compensation and pension benefits will be paid to the bereaved family. If not, the family is expected to pursue separate legal procedures.
A was diagnosed with influenza B on January 27 but continued to report to work for three more days. Her symptoms later worsened, and she was treated in an intensive care unit before passing away on February 14. She died after continuing to work without rest despite the flu diagnosis, and the bereaved family sees a causal link between her work environment and her death.
The family is arguing for a connection between her working conditions and her death. They maintain that although a mass flu outbreak was underway at the kindergarten at the time, A was unable to receive adequate treatment due to her heavy workload. The family also stresses that A was infected during a period when her workload had intensified with preparations for a school performance.
Materials submitted by the family indicate that between October last year and February this year, a total of 45 people — 43 out of 120 children and two teachers — contracted the flu. The figures were compiled by the family based on group chat records and testimonies. The family said confirmed cases continued to emerge during the period when A herself was infected.
"Taking Sick Leave Was Frowned Upon": Forced Attendance Amid Mass Infection
"Twelve people were confirmed with the flu between January 26 and 29, the period when A was infected," the family said. "Meals and educational activities took place in the same space, and during the preparation for the February 6 performance, combined-class rehearsals were held, leading to mass infection."
The family also pointed out that an atmosphere discouraging the use of sick leave contributed to her death. "As a relatively new teacher, A was in a position where taking sick leave would have forced after-school teachers to cover her schedule, so she inevitably felt pressured," the family said. "A's colleagues also said they were 'reluctant' to use sick leave or annual leave."
The outcome of this review is expected to have implications for discussions on improving working conditions for teachers in similar situations. Within the teaching community, the structural issue of newer teachers feeling psychological pressure about using sick or annual leave has been raised repeatedly. Attention is focused on whether this case will serve as an opportunity to reexamine the overall working environment of teachers.
