Key Facts
• July 4, 2025: Two individuals arrested for breaking into a high school.
• Suspects: A 31-year-old former teacher and a 48-year-old mother.
• Location: Andong, South Korea.
• Objective: Attempted theft of exam questions; alarm triggered during break-in.
• Former teacher worked at the school until February 2024 and tutored the mother’s daughter.
• Police suspect prior thefts and financial exchanges between the two.
• School janitor also arrested for aiding the break-in.
• The daughter, a top student since 2023, expelled and grades nullified.
• Broader issue: 250 teachers sold mock exam questions to private institutions over six years.
• Average earnings from sales: $61,000 per teacher.
Summary
A former South Korean teacher and a student’s mother were arrested on July 4, 2025, for breaking into a high school in Andong to steal exam questions. The suspects, aged 31 and 48, admitted to the crime, which was foiled when an alarm sounded. The former teacher, who had worked at the school until February 2024, also tutored the mother’s daughter. Police suspect the pair had previously stolen exam questions and exchanged money to boost the daughter’s academic performance. A school janitor was also arrested for assisting the break-in. The daughter, a top student since 2023, was expelled, and her grades were invalidated. This incident highlights ongoing issues in South Korea, where academic fraud has been prevalent. Over six years, 250 teachers reportedly sold mock exam questions to private institutions, earning an average of $61,000 each.
