KTU Denies Teacher Compared President to an Animal
Claims of Infringement on Teachers' Rights
Claims have been raised on some SNS platforms where Sejong City residents are active that a middle school teacher used profanity while urging the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol during class, prompting the education office to launch an investigation.
On the 14th, Yonhap News reported, citing the Sejong City Office of Education and Sejong City Council, that multiple KakaoTalk group chats posted messages stating, "A middle school history teacher compared President Yoon to an animal during class on the 12th and said he should be impeached along with using profanity."
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was released, is seen on the 8th getting out of a security vehicle in front of Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, greeting supporters. Photo by Yonhap News
In response, Yoon Ji-sung, a member of the Sejong City Council from the People Power Party and chair of the Education and Safety Committee, conveyed the related information to the Education Office’s Audit Office and Teacher Personnel Department and requested verification of the facts. It is also known that he visited the school in person and asked the principal to confirm the truth of the teacher’s remarks.
In a statement, Chair Yoon asserted, "Political neutrality in educational settings must be strictly maintained, and the expression of personal political views by teachers is not appropriate for their role as educators." He told Yonhap News, "Is it right not to respond when such allegations arise?" and added, "I thought it was necessary to clarify the facts before the controversy escalates to reduce harm." He emphasized, "If the teacher’s remarks are confirmed to be true, the Education Office must take action according to relevant regulations."
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) argues that the teacher did not use profanity targeting President Yoon and that Chair Yoon’s actions constitute a clear infringement on teachers’ rights by restricting class activities.
On the 14th, the KTU held a press conference at the City Council, stating, "There is no fact that the teacher used profanity targeting President Yoon," and "Chair Yoon Ji-sung disregarded the teacher’s professional autonomy in teaching and pressured the school by demanding disciplinary action and audits against the teacher."
Lee Sang-mi, head of the Sejong branch of the KTU, criticized, "The teacher did not make the exaggerated remarks circulating in rumors, and even if they did, the behavior of the chair of the Education and Safety Committee of Sejong City Council intervening in the content of individual school classes cannot be justified." She added, "It appears to be an act of exercising influence to protect the regime, intimidate teachers, and demonstrate loyalty to his own administration."
She also demanded an apology from Chair Yoon, his resignation as chair of the Education and Safety Committee, withdrawal of the unfair audit by the City Office of Education, and protection of teachers’ educational rights.
Earlier, the Sejong City branch of the Innovation Party also issued a statement on the 13th, criticizing, "Chair Yoon from the People Power Party and Councilor Kim Dong-bin are pressuring the teacher by demanding disciplinary action and audits," calling it "a clear violation of teachers’ rights and an unjust oppression using power."
Following the controversy, the Sejong City Office of Education is reportedly investigating the facts by interviewing the teacher and students from the morning of the same day.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
