• A teacher and a parent arrested for attempting to steal exam papers at a South Korean high school.
• The incident highlights ongoing issues with exam-related scandals in the country's competitive education system.
• The expelled student had previously maintained top grades, raising suspicions about their academic integrity.

In South Korea, a teacher and a parent of a high school student have been arrested after allegedly breaking into a school early on July 4 to steal exam papers. Their criminal attempt was thwarted when the school's security alarm was triggered. The police apprehended the teacher, a 31-year-old woman, alongside the parent, a 48-year-old man, and a school facilities manager who assisted them in the break-in, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.

The teacher is facing multiple charges, including accepting bribes and trespassing, while the parent is charged with trespassing. Investigations suggest that the teacher had previously tutored the parent’s child and may have been part of a broader scheme involving similar thefts aimed at manipulating academic performance. Authorities believe that the stolen exam papers were intended for use in aiding the student's success, reflecting a troubling pattern within the competitive educational landscape of South Korea, according to Channel News Asia and BBC.

This incident is not isolated; South Korea has faced numerous related scandals, including a series of leaks and sales of exam questions by teachers to private tutoring institutions. In February, investigations revealed that nearly 250 teachers were found to have sold exam questions, generating significant financial gain, thus raising alarms over academic integrity standards in the nation's education system. The need for strict regulatory measures has been emphasized, especially against the backdrop of intense societal pressure surrounding student performance, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

As a consequence of the theft, the student involved has been expelled and her grades nullified, pending further action based on the ongoing investigations. The police have indicated they are "investigating the scope of the stolen test content, the timeline of leaks, possible co-conspirators, and whether money changed hands," as the educational community grapples with the implications of this incident, according to South China Morning Post and BBC.