[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Lee Jeong-seon, a preliminary candidate for Gwangju Superintendent of Education, has recruited a large number of reformist democratic figures from the fields of citizens, labor, disability, media, and peace, including Jeong Cheol-ung, an advisor to the Gwangju Environmental Movement Union.
On the 11th, the candidate held a press conference at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education briefing room to announce the recruitment of personnel for the election campaign committee, stating, “We have gathered 14 people who have devoted themselves to democratization, labor rights, environment, and peace movements on this land to inherit and strengthen democracy, human rights, and peace education.”
The recruited personnel announced that day include former co-chairman of the Gwangju Citizens’ Coalition, Jeong Cheol-ung, as well as those active in democracy, human rights, and labor fields: ▲ Kim Yong-mok, representative of the Gwangju Disability Abolition Solidarity ▲ Han Yeon-im, former head of the Gwangju branch of the School Irregular Workers’ Union ▲ Wi In-baek, chairman of the Korea Human Rights Education Institute ▲ Won Soon-seok, former executive representative of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratization Comrades Association ▲ Kim Young-gon, former vice chairman of the Gwangju Workers’ Council ▲ Park Joo-hyung, chairman of the Public Federation of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
Advisor Jeong Cheol-ung will serve as the overall election campaign committee chairman for candidate Lee Jeong-seon, and former branch head Han Yeon-im will serve as the election committee chairperson.
Advisor Jeong, originally from Haenam, graduated from Gwangju High School and Korea University. After working in a corporation, he devoted himself to civic movements and is a senior figure in Gwangju’s civic activism, having been active in the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Gwangju Environmental Movement Union, and Gwangju Citizens’ Coalition.
Former branch head Han established the National School Irregular Workers’ Union (Hakbi Union) to improve the treatment of irregular workers such as cooks, nutritionists, and English instructors in schools and has served as the head of the Gwangju branch of the Hakbi Union for 11 years.
Figures from media, society, and unification peace sectors include ▲ Na Kyung-taek, a photojournalist during the May 18 Gwangju Uprising ▲ Park Sang-soo, former editor-in-chief of Jeonnam Ilbo ▲ Park Dae-sik, former director of the Gwangju Viewer Media Center ▲ Jang Young-joo, former head of Gwangju Traffic Broadcasting ▲ Choi Yoo-myeong, former programming and production director of KBS Gwangju Broadcasting Headquarters ▲ Kim Young-rok, chairman of the Our Nation Association ▲ Park Jong-cheol, operating committee chairman of the Nuri Culture Foundation.
The candidate emphasized, “Gwangju education must further inherit and develop the proud value called the Gwangju Spirit and achieve a great transformation into democracy, human rights, and peace education,” adding, “We will create Gwangju education that respects the labor of sweat, cares for socially vulnerable groups such as the disabled, considers future environments like the climate crisis, and dreams of peace and unification beyond division.”
In 2011, the candidate was selected as the “Dad-like Professor” by Gwangju National University of Education students, and in 2012, while serving as president, despite strong opposition from the Lee Myung-bak government, he erected memorials for democratic martyrs Lee Kyung-dong and Han Sang-ryeol on the Gwangju National University of Education campus, earning a reputation as a democratic president.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
