hankyoreh

Ten civic organizations, including the Lawyers for Democratic Society and Citizens’ Solidarity for Human Rights, held a press conference to announce that they support a lawsuit filed by Kang Ui-seok against his high school in front of the Seoul Appellate Court on July 7. In the foreground, an activist with one of the groups performs a sketch representing the repression of freedom of religion in the schools.

In 2004, Kang was expelled from Daegwang High School for disobeying an order to attend a chapel service in school. He filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and went on a hunger strike that lasted 36 days to urge the school to give its students the freedom of religion.

Later that year, he filed a lawsuit with the Seoul District Court against the school for damages. In 2007, the court ruled in favor of Kang, saying, “Freedom of religion is more important than religious education. The school abused its authority when it expelled Kang.” The court ruled that the school pay Kang a total of 15 million won (US$14,400).

On appeal, however, the appellate court ruled in favor of the school, saying, “Kang and his parents did not distinctly express their rejection of a religious education, so expelling Kang is a permissible action for the school to take.”

Kang, 22, who participated in the July 7 press conference, said, “The appellate court’s ruling gives more weight to religious education than to religious freedom. However, I do not agree with this and am filing my final appeal.”