Seoul Metropolitan Council to Proceed with Abolition Process Next Week
Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education, "Will Exercise Right to Request Reconsideration"
The Seoul Metropolitan Council will begin procedures next week to repeal the Student Human Rights Ordinance. Along with this, other city and provincial councils are also showing movements to repeal or amend the Student Human Rights Ordinance. However, voices advocating for the ordinance's continuation remain strong, intensifying the conflict surrounding the ordinance's fate.
On the afternoon of September 8, Seoul City Council members from the People Power Party held a picket protest in front of the Seoul City Council building in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging the passage of the ordinance to repeal the Student Human Rights Ordinance in the standing committee. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Council on the 15th, the Education Committee will hold a committee meeting on the 18th and a plenary session on the 19th to handle about 40 pending ordinances.
At the meeting on the 19th, the repeal proposal of the Student Human Rights Ordinance is also scheduled to be reviewed. Lee Seung-mi, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Education Committee, said, "Earlier, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to normalize the council for budget review and to submit related proposals," adding, "Also, since the residents' ordinance petition must be resolved within one year according to relevant laws, it is highly likely to be submitted."
The Student Human Rights Ordinance has faced criticism from some quarters for excessively emphasizing students' rights, which has led to infringements on teachers' authority. Accordingly, the People Power Party members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council have been preparing a new ordinance to repeal the Student Human Rights Ordinance, strengthen students' duties, and protect teachers' rights.
If the repeal proposal is submitted to the Education Committee, a vote will be held immediately. Currently, the Education Committee consists of 13 members including the chairperson, with 9 from the People Power Party and 4 from the Democratic Party. If the repeal proposal passes the standing committee, it will be submitted to the plenary session scheduled for the 22nd. Currently, the Seoul Metropolitan Council has 75 seats held by the People Power Party and 35 by the Democratic Party.
There are seven regions nationwide with Student Human Rights Ordinances: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Gwangju. Among these, regions other than Seoul are also considering repeal or amendment. The Chungnam Provincial Council Education Committee submitted a repeal proposal on the 5th and approved it by vote. The repeal proposal will be submitted to the provincial council plenary session on the 15th. Among the 47 provincial council members in Chungnam, 35 are from the People Power Party. The Jeonbuk Office of Education announced a legislative notice last month on the 17th for a partial amendment to the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Student Human Rights Ordinance, adding a clause on 'students' responsibilities and duties.'
The Gyeonggi Provincial Council is also preparing for repeal. On the 6th, Seo Seong-ran, a People Power Party member, announced a legislative notice for a repeal ordinance of the Student Human Rights Ordinance. Gyeonggi was the first region in the country to enact the Student Human Rights Ordinance in 2010.
Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education for Seoul, is holding a solo protest against the abolition of the Student Human Rights Ordinance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News
However, voices opposing these local council movements remain strong. Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, began a one-person protest on the 13th to prevent the repeal of the Student Human Rights Ordinance. Superintendent Cho plans to conduct the one-person protest throughout Seoul until the 22nd.
He also stated that he would exercise the right to request reconsideration if the repeal proposal passes. Superintendent Cho said, "If the repeal is approved at this plenary session, I will request reconsideration, and even if it is re-approved in the next session, there is also the option to file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to invalidate the repeal." According to the Local Education Autonomy Act, the superintendent can request reconsideration within 20 days after the local council's resolution. If reconsideration is requested, the local council can finalize the resolution with a majority of the total members present and at least two-thirds approval of those present.
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