A chilling revelation has surfaced surrounding Peniel Arts High School in Busan, where three female students recently died by suicide—a tragedy that has already shocked the nation. It’s now been reported that a similar suicide occurred at the same school in 2021, raising disturbing questions about systemic abuse, corruption, and cover-ups within the institution.
The allegations were brought to light on the July 22 episode of MBC’s investigative program PD Notebook (PD수첩), which uncovered details of the previous suicide involving an 18-year-old student, referred to as Student A, a Korean dance major. She died by suicide on school grounds on December 20, 2021. According to Busan Ilbo, the incident had gone largely unnoticed until it was covered in an exposé a year later titled “Suicide, Transfers, Psychiatric Treatment… Wave of Abuse Allegations Against Teachers.”
Student A’s mother shared heartbreaking testimony, stating, “I used to drop her off every morning at what I thought was the safest place. But that place turned out to be hell. That devil was right there in the school I trusted.” The so-called “devil” she referred to is Teacher B, who allegedly targeted Student A after she transferred to a different dance academy not affiliated with him. That same teacher is now Principal Hyun, currently at the center of controversy.
Another former student, Student C, recounted similar abuse after switching academies: “Mr. Hyun slammed the door open and yelled, ‘Hey, you! Get out! Why did you change academies without telling anyone?!’” She further described an atmosphere of isolation and intimidation: “Other teachers acted like I didn’t exist. Just being at school made my heart pound. I couldn’t breathe.”
After leaving her original academy, Student C became the subject of malicious rumors, including false accusations of drinking alcohol at a male teacher’s apartment. These baseless claims resulted in her being effectively blacklisted from all dance academies in Busan.
One academy director admitted the existence of an informal blacklist, “No one wants to teach her. All the other academy heads know. She has nowhere to go.” He also confessed to being an alumnus of Principal Hyun’s university, implying a network of collusion among academy directors and school leadership.
A current Peniel teacher confirmed the school’s unwritten rule that dance students are forbidden to switch academies, hinting at a financial motive. When directly asked, Principal Hyun stated bluntly: “They can’t. There’s money involved.”
The same type of toxic rumors and sexual misconduct allegations were spread about the three girls who died in 2024, including claims they were given alcohol and assaulted at a male teacher’s apartment. CCTV evidence later proved the rumors false, and the accused teacher—who was in Seoul with family—was cleared by police.
Still, the damage was done. “I went to the funeral for the three girls,” the falsely accused teacher recalled, “but the academy heads treated me like the perpetrator. They yelled, ‘How dare you come here? They died because of you.’”
With now four student suicides tied to the same school, national outrage is mounting. Calls for thorough investigations, accountability, and protection for student whistleblowers are growing louder by the day.
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