30,000 Teachers to the National Assembly... Sitting with Their Backs Turned in Protest

Demand for Prompt Revision of the 'Gyogwon 4 Laws'
"Amendments to the Child Welfare Act and Child Abuse Punishment Act Also Needed"

Teachers gathered from all over the country held a rally in front of the National Assembly building demanding the prompt revision of the Four Teacher Rights Acts. An estimated 30,000 teachers (20,000 according to police estimates), dressed in black, filled four lanes of Uisadang-daero and the surrounding sidewalks, sitting with their backs turned to the National Assembly in protest.

The host said, "On the 4th, which was the 49th-day memorial service for teacher Seo I-cho who took her own life, teachers nationwide showed a resolute movement called the Day for the Normalization of Public Education, the first in constitutional history, but the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly's response remains sluggish."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "While the Four Teacher Rights Acts have been stalled, more teachers have left us," adding, "The endless heartbreaking news, the still unrevealed stories of teachers, and the slow legislation weigh heavily on those left behind."

He then stated, "We are all formidable voters with one vote each," and "We sat with our backs turned (to the National Assembly) to show that."

The teachers demanded the revision of the Four Teacher Rights Acts, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Early Childhood Education Act, the Teacher Status Act, and the Framework Act on Education, as well as amendments to the Child Welfare Act and the Child Abuse Punishment Act. One teacher said, "Along with the prompt passage of the Four Teacher Rights Acts, revising the Child Welfare Act and the Child Abuse Punishment Act is also essential."

He added, "Since the Child Abuse Punishment Act was enacted in 2014, 9,910 teachers have been reported for child abuse over eight years," and lamented, "Even after long investigations prove no charges, many teachers leave the profession as they remain registered as child abuse perpetrators and are managed on lists."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The rally was held under the theme "The Black Wave Does Not Stop," with slogans such as "Pass the Four Teacher Rights Acts No. 1 Quickly and Approve Them in the September National Assembly," "Exclude Teachers from Reckless Child Abuse Accusations," and "Let's Live, Not Die, Holding Hands in Solidarity."

The Four Teacher Rights Acts include provisions to protect teachers' legitimate educational activities. They passed the National Assembly's Education Committee on the 15th and are expected to pass the plenary session on the 21st.

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