"Care Over Surveillance"... KTU Opposes School CCTV Ordinance

Despite 7,000 Cameras Already in Operation, 24.6 Billion Won to Be Spent?
"Concerns Over Human Rights Violations and Effectiveness... Fears of Hasty Legislation"

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) issued a statement on the 18th, declaring, "The ordinance on the installation and operation of CCTV in schools, passed by the Gwangju City Council, is a hasty piece of legislation enacted without gathering opinions from educational stakeholders, and there is significant concern that it may infringe on the rights of students and teachers."

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The Gwangju branch of the KTU criticized, "Currently, approximately 7,000 CCTV cameras are already installed and operating in schools throughout the Gwangju area. Nevertheless, the plan to spend an additional 24.6 billion won to further expand CCTV installations by 2029 raises further questions about its effectiveness and necessity." The statement added, "Verbal abuse, which accounts for the largest proportion of school violence, is difficult to prevent with CCTV, and creating an atmosphere where school members are regarded as potential criminals could have a negative impact on the educational environment."

The ordinance includes provisions allowing CCTV to be installed in "locations designated by the school principal," but does not specify any procedures for obtaining consent or gathering opinions from stakeholders such as students, teachers, or guardians. The KTU pointed out, "Compared to similar ordinances in other local governments, the Gwangju ordinance is a typical example of a lack of careful consideration for the rights of educational community members."

The KTU argued, "Rather than expanding CCTV, it is necessary to establish a culture that respects human rights and to build a counseling support system." The union insisted, "The substantial budget should be prioritized for hiring more teachers, reducing the number of students per class, and providing psychological and emotional support, rather than for surveillance." The statement concluded, "The Gwangju Office of Education and the City Council should reconsider the ordinance and listen to the voices of those in the educational field."