Kim Daejung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, urged for a swift decision on the impeachment of President Yoon Sukyeol.
On the 13th, Superintendent Kim stated on his Facebook, "There is a future only if we uphold the Constitution, the fundamental law of a democratic nation. I urge a prompt decision to uphold the impeachment," and added, "The ongoing constitutional trial can be seen as a process of restoring the constitutional order from the emergency martial law that sought to destroy it. The overwhelming majority of citizens and our constitutional order oppose the 12.3 Emergency Martial Law."
He continued, "Currently, regardless of political affiliation, only a very small minority of citizens support the 12.3 Emergency Martial Law. The immediate lifting of martial law by the National Assembly was a stern judgment and command from the people. However, the issue of impeachment has divided public opinion for a long time," and stressed, "Since there is only one person involved in both the martial law and the impeachment, it is clear that they cannot be separated. We must restore constitutional order through a swift and clear decision."
Superintendent Kim emphasized, "This is precisely why a prompt decision by the Constitutional Court to uphold the impeachment is necessary. I once again urge the Constitutional Court to make an immediate decision to safeguard constitutional order and restore democracy."
He also assessed that Korea is currently facing an era that requires a major transformation, stating, "The crises our society faces?such as the demographic cliff, climate crisis, worsening inter-Korean relations, and instability in the economy and people's livelihoods?are by no means trivial." He went on to say, "In this era of great transformation, the direction we must take is to return to the basics," and added, "Just as the transformation in education began with a return to its fundamentals, Korea's transformation must also begin anew by upholding the Constitution and restarting democracy."
Superintendent Kim pointed out, "The greatest enemy of a democratic system is dictatorship, and the constant enemy of our Constitution has always been emergency martial law," adding, "The history of our Constitution is one of repeated suppression of democracy through martial law. The historical record clearly shows that the regimes of Syngman Rhee, Park Chunghee, and Chun Doohwan suppressed democracy through emergency martial law." He further emphasized, "Looking at modern history, citizens who supported and defended martial law fostered dictatorship, while those who opposed martial law have protected the democratic system."
He concluded, "Upholding the Constitution, the basic law of society, and safeguarding democracy is both the responsibility of education and a mission of our time. Education for democracy must embody the will to protect democracy and the Constitution, and to overcome and prevent the destruction of constitutional order through dictatorship and emergency martial law, in order to be a living education."
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