Daegu education cheif Woo Dong-gi has come under some fire from netizens and citizens alike for allegedly attributing the high suicide rate in his region to, among other causes, the high-profile suicide of former president Roh Moo-hyun that brought Korea to a standstill in 2009.
From Daum:
Superintendent of Education says ‘Aren’t student suicides the fault of the former President?’, causes uproar on SNS sites
Woo Dong-gi, the Daegu education superintendent, stirred much controversies by attributing cases of student suicide in his region to the ex-late president Roh Moo-hyun.
On May 2nd, during the phone interview with YTN regarding the suicide of 7 middle- and high-school students in Daegu he said ‘Many in high social position, including the ex-late president Roh, are killing themselves to avoid facing the problems in life,’ and ‘rather than discussing the effectiveness of counter-measures, the larger problem is the social environment and cultural factors that are at work.’
He evaded any direct responsibility by adding ‘these social factors are being exposed directly to students and young adults without any filter. Suicide prevention measures are so complex that schools by themselves can only achieve very little.’
The Taegu education superintendent giving testimony
Woo defended his policy by criticizing the media for ‘publicizing the suicide note, which no other countries in the world does,’ and concluded that ‘suicide (by jumping off the roof) is a national phenomenon. We have 1 or 2 students difference from the national average but it is not just in Daegu.’
This news caused great consternation and criticisms from SNS.
Pediatrician Seo Chon-seok wrote on his Twitter (@suchs) “No wonder students are dying by droves in such a place where they elect this kind of superintendent. Is this actually coming from a superintendent of a city where 9 students died in such a short period of time? Utterly shameless.’
Political commentator Seo Young-seok (@du0280) also chided in: ‘the person in charge of education in Daegu shat on himself by blaming Roh-Tong, without a shred of self-reflection and self-blame.’
Comments from Daum:
접시다이어트:
Can’t believe he is an education superintendent.. this is nuts!
Chloe:
The ones who should kill themselves are people like Mr. Woo, but they never do. You slimebag, you deserve everything that’s coming to you.
우리가남이가:
Being born as a Gyeongsangdian is a sin.
소장님:
Perhaps children in Daegu are reaching heaven so fast,,, because of people like him? Gotham Daegu has quite a few of these,,, a daughter of commie for one… [Daegu is often referred to as Gotham Daegu on the internet as many say it is a grim city with high crime and suicide rates]
대한민국:
Wait! Just in case if you are confused… superintendents are not actual educators! They are educational ‘administrator’… Not for education but for performance and efficiency… They are out on the field interfering with teachers trying to do their works…
NAMANGAN:
Children’s suicides are to blame ex-president…. children’s lies and future corruptions are to blame current president… you fucking twat.
manstory77:
Dare we badmouth the only city in the country with no free lunch for children for fear of bankrupting the entire nation, Daegu…
자유로:
Trashy education superintendent elected by trash…
NY:
Werter effect? Isn’t it not a proven fact that suicide by those in high social position have widespread impacts?
스카이:
Of course a man from Daegu…..you even seem like a Daegu bastard
백호:
Gotham Daegun, the place even if Chun Doo-Hwan were to return again, all the votes would be funnelled to the one candidate
LEECHEM:
Is he for education or using this as launchpad to get into national politics?
불사파:
I guess he wants a seat from Saenuri… The current administration seems to highly value these kind of folks… Maybe he will join the Park Geun-hye camp?
느티나무:
It’s because people like him are responsible for education in Daegu that Daegu becomes Gotham Daegu
