[TW: suicide, abuse]

An Instagram account has begun targeting families implicated in the systemic abuse of a deceased school teacher.

On September 5, a teacher from Daejeon Gwanpyeong Elementary School was found fatally injured in her home. She was immediately taken to the hospital but passed away on September 7. Reports later emerged indicating that the cause of death was suicide.

Ongoing police investigations revealed that the late teacher, referred to as 'A,' had been subjected to severe accusations from four parents since 2019. Further, she was legally accused of child abuse in 2020 after a child protection institution, Save The Children, concluded that there was 'emotional abuse' involved. 

However, after a ten-month official investigation by the police, 'A' was exonerated, leading to a reevaluation of the civil complaints as a veiled form of power abuse from the parents.

Despite moving to another elementary school, 'A' had been undergoing treatment for trauma. The recent case of another teacher who took her own life at Seol Elementary School in July had reportedly exacerbated 'A's suffering.

In the aftermath of 'A's tragic death in Daejeon, supporters and local citizens retaliated against the establishments owned by the accused families, including a restaurant and a hair salon. The buildings were vandalized with post-its reading "murderers" and pelted with ketchup, trash, raw eggs, and flour. Subsequently, the restaurant reportedly closed down.

On September 11, an Instagram account surfaced, posting photographs and sensitive personal information tied to the family members allegedly involved in 'A's abuse.

The introductory post read: "I will publicize the murderers, their children, and their distant relatives' identities responsible for driving a teacher of 24 years to suicide." 

Subsequent posts disclosed images, phone numbers, addresses, occupations, and workplaces of the implicated family members, amounting to over 40 individual posts.

The account owner wrote: “While some may consider these actions excessive, the husband of the deceased lost his beloved wife due to these people. Her aged parents lost their treasured child who served as a teacher. Children bury their parents in the ground, but parents bury their children in their hearts when they pass. You cannot fathom this pain. The two children from the deceased's family have also lost their mother. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. I wish to eradicate the deep-seated societal problems that this incident has exposed."

When certain users threatened to officially report the account, the response was a defiant: "Do it if you can. I am a 10-year-old minor (immune from legal consequences)." Although the original Instagram page was removed following community reports, the anonymous user continues to create new accounts to carry on with the disclosures.

Currently, responses to the Instagram page are mixed. While some are in support of its actions, others are criticizing its extent and the disclosure of personal information regarding the accused family members.