Korea: Teachers win breakthrough on political rights after hunger strike and relentless campaign
After more than 60 days of sit-ins and a seven-day hunger strike, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU) has secured a landmark agreement with the National Assembly to establish a consultative body on guaranteeing the basic political rights of teachers and public servants.
The breakthrough follows weeks of escalating action. KTU began its protest on November 12, 2025, demanding legislation to guarantee teachers’ political rights—a pledge included in President Lee Jae-myung’s campaign and policy agenda. Frustration grew when the Democratic Party signaled it would be “difficult” to act within the year, and President Lee suggested public approval was a prerequisite.
KTU rejected this stance, arguing that constitutional rights cannot be subject to opinion polls. The union clarified it is not seeking partisan activity in classrooms but the right for teachers, as citizens, to participate in political life outside work.
Months of Protest and Escalation
On December 18, union leaders launched hunger strikes and overnight sit-ins, with KTU President Younghwan Park vowing: “We will open the tightly shut door to political fundamental rights! We are citizens who must live in this society, and educators who must save education in this country.”
The government responded to the strike, guaranteeing the creation of a consultative body within the National Assembly and recognizing teachers’ political basic rights.
KTU President Park stated after ending his hunger strike at a press conference:
“Through more than 60 days of tent sit-ins and a seven-day hunger strike, we have reached an agreement to set up a consultative body within the National Assembly. Guaranteeing teachers’ political basic rights is essential to prevent the tragedy of school sites where both children and teachers are dying. Although we had hoped the relevant legislation would pass within this year, that did not happen. We began a hunger strike to urge the National Assembly to start discussions. Today, having received a promise from the Democratic Party of Korea, we are ending the hunger strike. Going forward, we will win the right to basic political rights for teachers and public officials.”
Regional and Global Solidarity
Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) Director Anand Singh commended Park and the KTU leadership for their determination: “We understand that this agreement was achieved in the aftermath of your seven-day hunger strike, undertaken in the context of sustained daily public protests by KTU members over the past month. These actions demanded that legislation guaranteeing teachers’ political rights be formally drafted and debated. We express our deepest respect for your personal sacrifice, leadership, and moral resolve, as well as for the collective determination shown by KTU teachers throughout this struggle.”
Singh also warned that the situation remains exceptional:
“As members of the global community committed to human and political rights, we remain deeply concerned that teachers in Korea continue to face intimidation and are denied their fundamental right to legally engage in the full spectrum of political activities. This situation is highly exceptional. Among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, it is extremely rare for teachers to be deprived of political rights, making the Korean case a striking anomaly. Progress in this area is long overdue.”
EIAP urged the Korean government to act: “Ensuring teachers’ political rights is not only a matter of democratic principle and fairness, but also essential to strengthening public education, social dialogue, and civic society as a whole. We hope that this recent agreement will mark a meaningful turning point and lead to concrete legislative action to fully secure teachers’ political rights in Korea. EIAP stands in full solidarity with you and KTU and remains committed to supporting your continued struggle for justice, dignity, and democracy.”
