Lee Jae-myung: "Teacher Authority and Student Rights Should Not Be Defined as Opposing"

Opposition Statement Against the Abolition of the Student Human Rights Ordinance

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, opposed the movement to abolish the Student Human Rights Ordinance in some areas including Seoul on the 16th, stating, "Abolishing the Student Human Rights Ordinance does not protect teachers' rights."

After writing this on Facebook, Lee said, "The true way to protect teachers' rights is to protect teachers from malicious complaints and lawsuits, not to take away teachers' education and research time due to the Ministry of Education's misguided guidelines, and to prepare support measures so that teachers can focus solely on teaching children."

He criticized, "The 'bad politics' that exploit this tragedy for political gain is also a problem," adding, "They define teachers' rights and student rights as opposing forces and create division between teachers and students."

Lee especially emphasized, "Just as children's rights are not suppressed to guarantee parents' rights, it is absurd to suggest giving up student rights to guarantee teachers' rights," and stressed, "I firmly oppose the unreasonable act of trying to gain political benefits through a confrontation between factions."