A Nationwide Memorial Rally of 120,000 People... Why Did the Teachers Take to the Streets?

Sei Elementary School Teacher's 49th Memorial, Nationwide Teachers' Tribute
"Four Major Laws for Teacher Rights Protection Must Pass by September"

On the 49th day since the death of a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School, memorial rallies were held nationwide, where teachers raised their voices for the need to amend laws to restore teachers' authority.

On the 4th, 50,000 teachers (estimated by the organizers) gathered at a memorial rally held in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Considering the number of attendees at rallies held at 13 metropolitan and provincial offices of education across the country that day, it is reported that more than 120,000 people participated in the memorial.

The organizers demanded ▲a thorough investigation into the teacher's death ▲approval of an agreement to protect teachers ▲creation of a safe and respectful educational environment. In their statement, they said, "Stop killing teachers any longer. We urge a prompt investigation into the truth behind this unjust death," and added, "If the law does not change, schools will not change, and if schools do not change, there is no future for the Republic of Korea."

Participants are observing a moment of silence at a candlelight vigil held on the afternoon of the 4th at Seoul National University of Education in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 49th day memorial of a teacher from Seoi Elementary School in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Teachers are united in saying that legislation must back the establishment of teachers' authority. Kim Dong-seok, head of the Teachers' Authority Division at the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, requested on the 4th during YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Face-off,' "Please pass the law by September through the full meeting of the Education Committee and the plenary session of the National Assembly to show an answer to the teachers who are in pain."

Kim said, "Teachers must be protected from false accusations of child abuse," and added, "Also, when reporting child abuse, suspension without just cause occurs, and this part needs improvement." He continued, "Our starting point is guaranteeing the authority of kindergarten teachers in guiding students' behavior, and malicious complaints must be strictly restrained. Since these are included in infringements on educational activities, many teachers hope that the School Teachers' Authority Protection Committee be transferred to the local offices of education."

The National Assembly, government, and metropolitan and provincial offices of education formed a 'four-party consultative body' consisting of ruling and opposition parties, the government, and metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education in August to legislate for the protection of teachers' authority. The four-party consultative body held its second meeting on the 1st and agreed to amend four major laws for improving teachers' status and protecting educational activities: the Special Act on Teachers' Status (Teachers' Status Act), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Early Childhood Education Act, and the Framework Act on Education. Currently, related bills such as the Teachers' Status Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and Early Childhood Education Act have passed the subcommittee on bill examination of the National Assembly Education Committee.

Lim Tae-hee, superintendent of Gyeonggi-do Office of Education and a participant in the four-party consultative body, said on the 5th during YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' "They completely ignored the order and prioritized passing this law first," and added, "I think the National Assembly also made tremendous efforts."

On the afternoon of the 4th, participants are shouting slogans at the '49th Memorial Service for the Late Teacher Seo I-cho' held in front of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education in Jung-gu, Ulsan. Photo by Yonhap News

He further explained, "The chairperson of the relevant standing committee, the Education Committee chair Kim Cheol-min, and the two party floor leaders have made great efforts through this meeting, and as a result, the bill has passed the subcommittee. Once it passes the full committee, it will be finalized through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and become law."

Superintendent Lim Tae-hee said, "There are still some unresolved differences in the middle, so it is not yet finalized, but I believe the (memorial) atmosphere will play a significant role in speeding up the legislation."

Meanwhile, both ruling and opposition parties emphasized the swift promotion of legislation to restore teachers' authority. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "The government and ruling party will strive to ensure that the four major bills for protecting teachers' authority (Teachers' Support Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Early Childhood Education Act, and Framework Act on Education amendments) are promptly legislated."

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also stated, "We will definitely conclude legislation for restoring teachers' authority and normalizing public education at the September plenary session of the National Assembly."

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