1989 Gwangju-area Dismissed Teachers "Restoration, Waited 31 Years"

Urgent Call for Enactment of the 'Special Act for Restoration of Dismissed Teachers Related to the Formation of JeonGyoJo'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Around 10:30 a.m. on the 29th, teachers began gathering one by one at the entrance of the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education.

Those who were standing hesitantly soon greeted each other warmly as more fellow teachers arrived one after another.

After about 20 minutes had passed, about 20 teachers unfolded the banners they had and stood in two rows, shouting, "We have waited 31 years. Enact the Special Act to Restore the Dismissed Teachers of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (JeonGyoJo) to their original status."

The teachers gathered that day were those from the Gwangju area who were forcibly dismissed for joining the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union in 1989 and later reinstated.

Since its founding, JeonGyoJo has taken the path of struggle to change the school field and education, and as a result, faced oppression from the regime.

The number of teachers nationwide dismissed solely for forming JeonGyoJo reaches about 1,500, with 130 from the Gwangju area. Among them, only 21 are currently holding teaching positions, approaching retirement.

Also present were teachers who had their appointments delayed for 10 to 12 years due to participation in protests against the regime during their university years and were later appointed through special recruitment.

They stated, "During the Kim Young-sam administration, JeonGyoJo was legalized and regained legal status, but since we were reinstated through special new recruitment, we neither received wages for the dismissal period nor had that period recognized as career experience," adding, "Because of this, we have suffered disadvantages such as low wages for over 25 years."

They continued, "Although we were recognized as democratization movement participants under the 'Act on the Restoration of Honor and Compensation for Persons Related to the Democratization Movement' enacted in 2000, the provision in the law stating 'no discrimination or personnel disadvantages due to dismissal' was not upheld," emphasizing, "The economic hardships caused by these damages and disadvantages have accumulated fully for the dismissed teachers."

They also said, "At this year's National Assembly audit, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye acknowledged the necessity of restoring the status of democratization movement participants dismissed due to the 1989 dismissed teachers, political cases, unresolved cases, and private school democratization cases in response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu," adding, "It is regrettable that those dismissed solely for joining the union at JeonGyoJo's founding faced difficulties and that follow-up measures for restoring their honor have been delayed."

They then requested, "President Moon Jae-in, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye, and Gwangju Superintendent of Education Jang Hwi-guk should fulfill their promise to restore the dismissed JeonGyoJo teachers from 1989 and take the lead in enacting the special law."

Kim Byung-ju, Chairperson of the JeonGyoJo Dismissed Teachers Restoration Promotion Committee, stated, "Among the teachers dismissed for forming JeonGyoJo, nine have already passed away without seeing their honor restored," and argued, "Not only JeonGyoJo but also teachers whose appointments were delayed for over 10 years due to participation in political protests during their school days should have their damages restored."

He added, "There is currently a movement to enact a special law, and we urge the government to step forward so that this can be resolved as soon as possible."