hankyoreh

the president of Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU

Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU, Jeon Gyo Jo) have announced an all-out struggle against the hardline punishment meted out by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), June 28.

KTU anticipates 30 to 50 thousand teachers will participate in a second emergency declaration on the current state of South Korea’s national affairs, and that it could cause a huge ripple effect throughout the country.

Jung Jin-hoo, the president of KTU presided over a meeting of the Central Committee attended by branch leaders who came from across the country to discuss countermeasures against the hard line taken by MEST at their office located in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo district, June 28. During their discussion, they referred to the harsh disciplinary actions taken by the current administration an attempt to incapacitate the KTU who have been loud critics against the Lee administration’s education policy.

The KTU concluded that they will issue a second declaration that calls for a cancellation of the punishment being sought against the 16 thousand teachers who participated in the first declaration. KTU also will attempt to deliver their statement via a press conference in front of the Cheong Wa Dae, June 29.

Um Min-yong, the spokesperson of KTU, says, “Because MEST had originally concluded that there was no violation in participating in the declaration, we feel the punishment is politically motivated.”

MEST recently identified 88 of the 17,000 members of KTU who participated in the June 18 statement as instigators and are issuing heavy disciplinary measures against them. Of the 88 participants, 10 central executive committee members are to be fired, including KTU President Jung Jin-hoo, while the other 78, including metropolitan and provincial chapter heads and full-time unionists, are to be suspended. MEST also plans to file a complaint about all 88 members with the Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges that include violation of the State Public Officials Act, and plans to issue light disciplinary actions, including cautions and warnings, against the other teachers who endorsed the declaration.

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