Thermometer Read 39.8°C: Kindergarten Teacher in Her 20s Dies After Working Three Days with the Flu

According to The Financial News, a teacher in her twenties working at a private kindergarten in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, reportedly continued to go to work for three days after being diagnosed with the flu, before her condition deteriorated and she died. Local politicians and education groups have described the case as a form of "structural killing" and are calling for a full investigation and recognition of the death as a work-related accident.
On the 19th, the Progressive Party Bucheon City Chapter and the Gyeonggi Branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union disclosed that Teacher A, a woman in her twenties working at a kindergarten in Bucheon, was diagnosed with Influenza B on January 27. Despite the diagnosis, she continued to report to work as usual at the kindergarten until January 30.
At the time, A is said to have posted a photo of a thermometer showing her temperature had risen to 39.8°C in a family social media chat, expressing how much she was suffering. Around 2 p.m. on January 30, she left work early, was hospitalized the following day, and was then transferred to the intensive care unit.
Ultimately, A died two weeks later, on the 14th of last month, reportedly from septic shock caused by streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and lung damage.
Her death certificate listed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome due to Influenza B, lung damage, soft tissue infection, and septic shock as the causes of death.
The bereaved family argued, "Her right to rest was not proactively guaranteed when she came down with the flu."

In response, the kindergarten stated, "At the time, the teacher did not request sick leave or early dismissal, and we had no choice but to trust her own judgment when she said she was fine."

In a statement issued that day, the Progressive Party Bucheon City Chapter said, "This incident is clearly a form of structural killing brought about by poor working conditions and irresponsible management," adding, "Because of a distorted culture that forces people to endure illness and a lack of substitute staff, teachers are being denied even their basic physiological rights."
The group urged the Gyeonggi-do Office of Education and the Bucheon Office of Education to recognize the case as a work-related accident, apologize to the bereaved family, mandate that administrators provide substitute teachers for classes, expand substitute staffing, and conduct a full investigation into violations of work regulations at kindergartens in the district.
The Gyeonggi Branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union also stated, "This death occurred because the current education system forces teachers to go to work even when they are sick," and added, "At kindergartens, taking sick leave or leaving early during the semester is practically difficult due to the shortage of substitute staff. Such an educational environment drove one teacher to a tragic death."

y27k@fnnews.com Reporter Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter