Chungnam Office of Education's 'Euljil' Prevention Ordinance Passes Standing Committee Amid Controversy

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Assemblyman Pyeon Sam-beom (People's Party, Boryeong 2) of Chungnam Provincial Council proposed an ordinance to prevent 'Euljil'. Although concerns were raised that the unclear term 'Euljil' might intimidate school staff, the 'Chungnam Office of Education Ordinance on Prevention of Gapjil, Euljil, and Workplace Harassment' passed the standing committee.

The Chungnam Provincial Council Education Committee held the 2nd Education Committee meeting of the 352nd regular session on the 12th and passed the ordinance as originally proposed.

The ordinance was prepared to prevent gapjil, euljil, and workplace harassment occurring in educational settings and to protect victims. It also includes provisions to establish and operate a reporting center to eradicate gapjil and related abuses.

While the enactment of an ordinance to prevent workplace harassment is necessary, the issue lies with the term 'Euljil'. The concept and definition of euljil are unclear, raising concerns about potential misuse.

Assemblywoman Shin Sook-ok (People's Party, Proportional Representation) pointed out, "The term 'Euljil' has not been clearly conceptualized. While there are cases of extreme choices due to gapjil, it is necessary to consider whether there are cases caused by euljil as well."

She added, "As gapjil cases diversify and become more sophisticated, equating gapjil and euljil might inadvertently weaken the impact of gapjil victim cases. It is important to contemplate and find ways to improve this emerging structure rather than continuously restricting it through laws and regulations, which may not fundamentally eradicate gapjil."

Teacher organizations criticized it as an 'Education Office version of silencing' and expressed concerns that school staff might feel intimidated.

Park Young-hwan, head of the Chungnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, stated, "The ordinance places the superior (Gap) and the subordinate (Eul) on the same level. This risks misuse by defining legitimate expressions of opinion in democratic school management, reasonable criticism, gapjil reporting, and legitimate union activities as euljil."

He continued, "There are already sufficient measures that administrators can take against members' legal violations, such as warnings from principals and disciplinary committee meetings at the Office of Education. The euljil ordinance may further intimidate school staff," urging the establishment of practical measures to eradicate gapjil.

In response, an official from the Office of Education said, "There are about 70 gapjil ordinances and 150 harassment ordinances nationwide, but this is the first ordinance related to euljil in the country. Therefore, it is true that some school staff have concerns about including euljil."

They added, "The ordinance aims to establish an institutional foundation to prevent gapjil occurrences and support victims, and based on this, cases will be handled fairly and objectively."

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