Kim Yongtae, former head of the Gwangju Regional Committee Citizen School at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, welcomed Democratic Party leader Jung Chungrae's announcement to swiftly advance teachers' basic political rights, urging for prompt legislative action.
Kim Yongtae, former head of the Gwangju Regional Committee Citizen School at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.
Kim stated, "Once again, outdated arguments such as 'neutrality in education' and 'politically biased education' will be repeated. However, just as granting teachers freedom of religion does not turn education into religious indoctrination, guaranteeing basic political rights for teachers will never lead to the politicization of education."
He emphasized, "Teachers are citizens, and all citizens should enjoy the constitutional right to be politically free and equal. Among OECD member countries, South Korea is the only nation that restricts teachers' basic political rights. It is urgent to guarantee rights that meet international standards."
He also said, "It is contradictory for teachers who have been deprived of their political rights to teach democracy and critical thinking. Guaranteeing teachers' basic political rights is not just about individual teachers' rights, but it is the minimum condition for democratic citizenship education for students."
Kim added, "On December 3 last year, we experienced that our democracy is still a work in progress. The driving force behind protecting democracy has been 'a conscience that acts rather than remains silent' and 'the power of awakened citizens, not mechanical neutrality.' Guaranteeing teachers' political rights is an urgent task demanded by our times."
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