Ei-iE

Education International expressed its full and unwavering solidarity with all teachers and education unionists in South Korea as they defend their democracy in the face of authoritarian actions by the Yoon Suk-Yeol administration.

EI strongly condemns the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, which represents an attack on democracy, civil liberties, and the fundamental rights of the Korean people. The imposition of martial law, along with the closure of the National Assembly and the suspension of political freedoms, is an unjust and illegal measure that undermines the democratic foundations of the Republic of Korea.

The unlawful move by President Yoon to intimidate and silence criticism marked a dark moment in South Korea's political history. For the first time in 44 years, martial law was declared in an attempt to suppress political opposition, media freedoms, and civil liberties. While the National Assembly swiftly rejected the measure, the administration's actions were a stark reminder of the dangerous lengths to which it is willing to go to maintain control.

In response to this authoritarian power grab, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) is standing firm in its opposition, condemning the president’s actions as a direct assault on the freedoms and rights of the Korean people, calling for his resignation to prevent further harm to the nation’s democracy.

The KTU, led by President Heeyeong Jeon, put out a statement which strongly condemned the Yoon administration "for undermining the foundations of democracy and restricting the freedoms of the people. We declare that this martial law declaration is illegal and fundamentally null and void."

Echoing the demands of its members in the country, Education International's General Secretary David Edwards stated that “we stand in solidarity with the Korean people and especially our members as they confront the worst democratic crisis of the last forty years. The government first attempted to silence teachers and their freedom of expression and now has taken a dictatorial page out of a dark past to intimidate and silence criticism."

Edwards, who as the events unfolded was in Seoul with an EI delegation for a UNESCO Future of Education Forum, shared how the South Korean government was attempting to demonstrate its educational innovation and forward thinking during the international event. "However, there is nothing as backward and discouraging as a government that cannot understand the basic democratic rights of its citizens. We condemn this move in the strongest possible terms,” he added. The authoritarian move was also condemned by other global union federations, who called for a full restoration of democratic rule.

Anand Singh, director of Education International Asia-Pacific, added his voice to "strongly condemn the attempt to impose martial law in South Korea," adding that "'we stand in unwavering solidarity with our affiliates, KTU and KFTA, and with the citizens in their fight to uphold democracy and protect fundamental rights."

"'We commend the resolute actions of the KTU and its members for their steadfast commitment to the defense of democracy, workers' rights, and human dignity. The KTU's unwavering stance is a clear demonstration of the vital role that education unions play in safeguarding democracy, particularly during times of political repression and authoritarian threats,” Singh added.

The immediate and massive rejection of President Yoon's move to impose martial law, resulted in his rescinding the order hours after it was announced. However, democratic forces remain vigilant and are now demanding his resignation.

Education International reaffirms its commitment to supporting democracy and human rights worldwide. We will continue to fight alongside our members and partners around the globe to defend democracy, workers' rights, and the dignity of all people.