Ministry of Education Requests Investigation into Jeon-gyo-jo's 'Opposition to Japan's Contaminated Water Dumping' Signature Campaign
Judged as Violation of Personal Information Protection Act
The Seoul branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (Jeon-gyo-jo) sent a group email to teachers in the Seoul area encouraging opposition to Japan's Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge, prompting the Ministry of Education to decide to request a police investigation.
On the 18th, the Ministry of Education stated, "The Seoul branch of Jeon-gyo-jo used teachers' email information through the K-EduFine work management system to send emails to an unspecified large number of recipients," adding, "We consider this a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and plan to report it to the Personal Information Protection Commission and pursue investigation requests against those involved."
Earlier, around the 13th, the Seoul branch of Jeon-gyo-jo sent a group email to 70,000 teachers under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, urging them to participate in a signature campaign to prevent Japan's Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge.
A Ministry of Education official explained, "It is problematic to use a public system for private purposes, but more importantly, using teachers' personal information beyond the originally agreed purpose constitutes a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act."
The Ministry of Education pointed out that although teachers' unions are prohibited from engaging in political activities, the Seoul branch of Jeon-gyo-jo politically encouraged the signature campaign to influence government policy.
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The Ministry added, "The Seoul branch of Jeon-gyo-jo's request to join the signature campaign is unrelated to 'legitimate union activities' such as maintaining and improving teachers' working conditions and enhancing their economic status," and stated, "We will strictly take measures according to laws and regulations regarding political activities of teachers' unions and teachers' participation in opposition signature campaigns."
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