Principal Designated for 'Discretionary Closure' "Afraid of Ministry of Education but... Decision for Teachers and Students"

Seoul Cheonwang Elementary Principal CBS Radio Interview
"Persuaded Teachers but... Strong Will to Join 9.4"

The principal of an elementary school in Seoul explained the background of designating the 'Day of Public Education Stop' as a discretionary holiday, saying, "The teachers were so determined that if disciplined, they would rather quit and look for another job."

Jung Yong-ju, principal of Seoul Cheonwang Elementary School, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 4th and said, "As a principal, while persuading for other forms of memorials, I also had to make decisions within legal authority to protect students' safety and learning rights due to the absence of most teachers, and to prevent disruption of the curriculum."

Principal Jung said, "First of all, the teachers did not request the designation of a discretionary holiday," adding, "However, including our school's kindergarten, most teachers clearly stated that they would participate in the Day of Public Education Stop on September 4th regardless of the principal's approval of annual or sick leave."

On the morning of the 3rd, a banner reading "Supporting the nationwide teachers' pause for the normalization of public education" was displayed in front of Seoi Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Principal Jung said, "In a situation where most teachers were expected to be absent that day, we could not allow only students to attend school, and since group annual or sick leave is illegal, we could not secure substitute teachers," adding, "Most of the retired substitute teachers also said they would not come as substitutes in solidarity with the teachers' intentions."

He continued, "While persuading the teachers, as a principal, I simultaneously promoted the designation of a temporary holiday and a plan to secure the number of school days," and said, "This is not about stopping classes today but securing an alternative school day, so there is no overall infringement on the total number of school days."

Earlier, the Ministry of Education defined the collective action on the 4th as an illegal act tantamount to a strike. It warned that principals who forcibly designate temporary holidays or teachers who use annual or sick leave without special reasons on that day could face disciplinary actions up to dismissal or expulsion and could be criminally prosecuted.

In response, Principal Jung said, "Honestly, I am very worried. Thinking about whether I have to leave the school before retirement makes me very scared," but emphasized the need for his role as the head of the institution with authority to supervise teachers and educate students.

Principal Jung said, "If I had not designated the discretionary holiday, I could not have allowed only children to attend a school where it was uncertain how many teachers would come, nor could I have neglected the resulting distorted disruption," adding, "Therefore, I decided on the temporary holiday, and to protect students' safe learning rights, I came to work early this morning to conduct a final check on emergency care, care, and after-school programs."

He also said, "Protecting teachers is the duty of the head of the institution, so although such incidents should not be repeated, even if they are, my judgment and decision will remain the same," and added, "Protecting teachers and learning rights is my most important duty as the head of the institution."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.