Gwangju Student Rights Ordinance Maintained... Education Authorities and Organizations "Welcome"

City Council Rejects Student Rights Ordinance Repeal Proposal
Education Superintendent Lee Jeong-seon: "Legal Measures to Ensure Equal Education"

Education authorities and organizations in the Gwangju area collectively expressed their welcome on the 13th regarding the Gwangju City Council's rejection of the ordinance to abolish the Gwangju Student Human Rights Ordinance.

The Gwangju Student Human Rights Ordinance was enacted in 2012. The ordinance specifies the right of students not to be discriminated against based on gender, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other factors. It also includes provisions such as the prohibition of corporal punishment, respect for individuality in dress and hairstyle, and minimization of personal belongings inspections.

However, some religious groups and others pointed out issues such as weakening teachers' control over students, declining student academic performance, and confusion over gender identity, and on September 21 of last year, submitted a resident ordinance petition demanding the abolition of the ordinance.

After acceptance of the abolition proposal, public opinion hearings, a citizen public hearing, and review by the Education and Culture Committee, the City Council finally decided to reject the ordinance abolition proposal at the plenary session on this day.

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education building.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education evaluated the result as a meaningful step to protect student human rights and respect their voices.

Lee Jeong-seon, Superintendent of the Gwangju Office of Education, said, “The Gwangju Student Human Rights Ordinance is an important legal device that guarantees students receive education equally without discrimination or oppression at school,” adding, “Respecting and upholding this is an important part of realizing the democratic values of our society.”

He continued, “We will continue to strive to ensure that students' rights are not violated, and will do our best to enable schools and local communities to cooperate so that students can grow into democratic citizens.”

The Gwangju Education Civic Coalition also welcomed the decision in a statement on the same day, calling it “an important case preventing the regression of democracy due to the abolition of ordinances in some regions.”

The Education Coalition stated, “In the current situation where social unrest is increasing due to the December 3 incident involving President Yoon Seok-yeol, today’s rejection of the ordinance abolition proposal has become an important signal to protect the basic rights of the people and constitutional values,” and evaluated that “Gwangju has once again proven to be a hometown of justice and democracy.”