Seoul Metropolitan Council Repasses Student Rights Ordinance Repeal... Cho Hee-yeon "Will File Lawsuit with Supreme Court" (Comprehensive)

The Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance was ultimately abolished despite the superintendent's request for reconsideration. This is the second time a student human rights ordinance has been abolished by a local government, following Chungnam. Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, described the reconsideration result as "devastating" and announced plans to file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court.

On the 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Council held a regular session plenary meeting and passed the "Reconsideration of the Ordinance to Abolish the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance" with 76 votes in favor, 34 against, and 1 abstention out of 111 members present.

Earlier, the council passed the ordinance to abolish the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance at a special session on April 26. In response, Superintendent Cho requested reconsideration of the abolition on the 16th of last month, but it was not accepted by the council.

On the afternoon of the same day, Superintendent Cho held a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council plenary hall, stating, "Today, the Seoul Metropolitan Council reconfirmed the abolition of the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance, ultimately destroying the foundation of student human rights in Seoul," and added, "This erases the human rights-friendly school culture that the educational community and the Office of Education have built together over the past 12 years since the ordinance was implemented."

He said, "The Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance is different from other ordinances prepared and enacted by the council and the executive branch," and added, "The Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance is the nation's first human rights declaration and legal norm institutionalized directly by citizens themselves to protect their own rights."

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He further explained regarding some malicious civil complaints, "It is reasonable to see that these arise not from conflicts between community members' rights but from the wrongful selfishness of some who misuse laws and systems," and stated, "My position to respond strictly to extreme misuse cases remains unchanged."

He continued, "Contrary to the council's judgment that abolishing the student human rights ordinance will eliminate conflicts in schools, it is clear that the abolition will instead cause further confusion and difficulties on the ground," emphasizing, "The abolition of the student human rights ordinance promotes discrimination and hatred, goes against the public interest, and may violate laws that stipulate the duty to guarantee human rights."

Superintendent Cho said, "Through filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Court, I will confirm the public interest infringement and legal violations caused by the abolition of the student human rights ordinance," and added, "I will also submit a request for suspension of execution of the abolition ordinance to maintain the effectiveness of the student human rights ordinance."

Previously, the Chungnam Office of Education filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court after the provincial council abolished the student human rights ordinance through the superintendent's reconsideration process. On the 30th of last month, the Supreme Court accepted the request for suspension of execution, suspending the effectiveness of the abolition ordinance.

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