Teachers’ Union’s Endorsement of KDLP Causes Controversy

The Korea Teachers Union (KTU) declared its endorsement of the Korea Democratic Labor Party (KDLP) on March 29 for the April 15 National Assembly elections, further fueling the controversy over teachers’ political neutrality.

Their endorsement came four days after the Constitutional Court’s ruling in favor of restrictions on teachers’ political activity on March 25.

“The KTU’s political directive is to turn workers into a political force through the KDLP,” KTU leader Won Young-man said in a statement posted on the union’s website. “The KTU has decided to respond proactively to the elections at the recent delegation meeting in an effort to turn workers into a political force.”

“If teachers remain silent about any change in the world just because they are regarded as civil servants, this is undemocratic,” Won said, commenting on the recent anti-impeachment statement made by the union. “Any discipline against teachers involved with the statement, which represents a legitimate right and the minimum expression of opinion, is just violence.”

On March 23, the KTU issued a statement against the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun. The following day, Acting President Goh Kun requested Education and Human Resources Development Minister Ahn Byung-young to take a stern disciplinary measure against the teachers according to the law.

“As an affiliate, we just repeated the decision made by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions,” KTU spokesman Song Won-jae said. “We re-notified the decision as interest has been heightened in the issue among KTU members as the elections are drawing closer.”

The Education and Human Resources Development Department will request the National Election Commission to rule on the legality of the KTU’s endorsement of the KDLP and its position against the impeachment.

Hyo-Lim Son aryssong@donga.com