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[2007-02-20] Korea: EI protests against the violation of teachers' freedom of expression

EI expresses its objection to the imprisonment of two Korean teachers, Choi Hwa-Seop and Kim Maeng-Gyu, who were arrested for violating "national security".

Both Choi and Kim are members of the Jeongyojo - Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, which is an affiliate of EI.

On 18 January 2007, Choi, a teacher at Myeongil Middle School, and Kim, who teaches at Cheongdam Middle School, were arrested for uploading to the internet North Korean posters and information concerning North Korean politics.

The charge of the violation of national security carries a potential death penalty.

The two teachers have been, in the past, awarded for their contribution to peace education. In October 2000, Choi Hwa-Seop was awarded by the Ministry of Education for his work in unification education. In 2005, Kim Maeng-Gyu produced lessons that were widely reported by media as superior examples of unification education. These lessons were supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Unification.

However, on 26 January 2007, the judge rejected the union's application for a review of the legality of the confinement and sent the teachers to the Seoul Prison on 29 January. A mass rally will be organised on 24 February to protest against the decision.

In its letter to the President of the Republic of Korea dated 20 February, EI strongly urges the Korean government to honour and respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and release the two detained teachers immediately.

EI condemns war and terrorism and promotes education for peace and intercultural learning as the best antidote to prevent social conflict and violence. As the global union representing education workers worldwide, EI therefore invites all its member organisations and teachers to promote education for peace and democratic coexistence.

For more information, please refer to EI's letter below in English:

_________________

H.E. Mr Noh Moo-hyun
President of the Republic
Korean Presidential House
Chongwadae
Seoul
Republic of Korea

By fax: +82-2-770-4937
Brussels, 20 February 2007

Dear Mr President,

Education International – the global union federation of teachers representing over 30 million members in 169 countries which has the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, KTU or JeonGyoJo, as one of its affiliates – is very concerned by the crackdown on Korean trade unionists and specifically the arrest and detention of two KTU teachers in violation of their right to freedom of expression.

On 18 January 2007, two teachers belonging to the KTU – Choi Hwa-seop, a teacher at Myeongil Middle School, and Kim Maeng-gyu, who teaches at Cheongdam Middle School, were arrested on the charges of violating the National Security Law. Their arrest, on charges which carry potential death penalty, is related to posters and information on North Korean politics that the teachers uploaded to the internet.

The two teachers have been, in the past, awarded for their contribution to peace education. In October 2000, Choi Hwa-seop was awarded by the Ministry of Education for his work in unification education. In 2005, Kim Maeng-gyu produced lessons that were widely reported by the media as superior examples of unification education. These lessons were supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Unification.

On 26 January 2007, the judge rejected the union application for a review of the legality of the confinement and sent the teachers to the Seoul Prison on 29 January.

Education International condemns war and terrorism and promotes education for peace and intercultural learning as the best antidote to prevent social conflict and violence. Education International therefore invites all its member organisations and teachers worldwide to promote education for peace and democratic coexistence.

Education International urges your Government to honour and respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by releasing the two detained teachers immediately.

Sincerely yours,

Fred van Leeuwen
General Secretary

cc:
Prime Minister, Han Myeong-suk, fax number is 82-2-2100-2110
Minister of Justice, Kim Seong-ho, fax number is 82-2-2110-3079
Minister of Education, Kim Sin-il, fax number is 82-2-2100-6009
KFTA – Chunkyojo - KPU
PSI – ITUC – ICFTU/APRO
ILO
Amnesty International
Brussels Embassy of the Republic of Korea

On the left is a North Korean poster uploaded on NK Chosun (http://nk.chosun.com), the site operating by the Chosun Ilso newspaper (english.chosun.com). On the right is the poster that the two teachers uploaded.

On the right are posters on North Korea available on the site of the Ministry of Education and on the left are posters uploaded by the two teachers.

One can freely read and download the original book of the late Kim Il-Sung, former North Korean president on the NK Chosun site. According to the National Security Law of South Korea, reading the original book of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jeong-Il is in itself a violation of the National Security Law. The name of the crime is the possession of the enemy's material.