Ministry of Education Requests Investigation into Jeon-gyo-jo for Encouraging Signatures Against Japan's Contaminated Water

"Violation of Personal Information Protection Act and Prohibition of Collective Action by Public Officials"

On the 28th, the Ministry of Education requested a police investigation regarding the Seoul branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (JeonGyoJo) sending a group email to teachers in the Seoul area encouraging opposition to Japan's Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge.

The Ministry of Education stated, "Using personal information from K-EduFine for a signature participation request hosted by the 'Joint Action to Stop Japan's Radioactive Contaminated Water Discharge' (Joint Action) constitutes a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act Articles 19 and 71, Clause 2."

It added, "A representative of the JeonGyoJo Seoul branch urged participation in the signature campaign in connection with the specific political group Joint Action to influence government policy. This violates the prohibition of collective actions by public officials under Articles 66, Clause 1 and 84-2 of the State Public Officials Act."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 14th, the JeonGyoJo Seoul branch sent a group email to 70,000 teachers under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education encouraging participation in a signature campaign to prevent Japan's Fukushima contaminated water ocean discharge.

The Ministry of Education stated, "We plan to strictly take measures according to relevant laws and regulations against political activities by teachers' unions and violations of teachers' political neutrality obligations in the future."

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