By Kim Bo-eun
Education Minister Kim Sang-kon Monday called for adequate handling of the cases involving teachers who criticized the government for the Sewol tragedy and its attempt to introduce a system of a single state-authored history textbook. Kim, also a deputy prime minister, made the recommendation in a statement submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Seoul High and Supreme courts.
Teachers had collectively denounced the government for its inept dealing with the April 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which killed over 300 passengers _ mainly high school students on a school trip. The education ministry filed a complaint against 284 teachers who had taken part.
Among them, 32 currently face their second trial at the Seoul High Court.
"I request the appropriate handling of the case concerning the teachers, who sympathized with the pain of the Sewol tragedy, to see beyond the conflict to move toward integration and reconciliation," Kim said in his statement to the chiefs of the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court as well as the Prosecutor General.
In 2015 and 2016 the ministry also filed complaints against 86 teachers who denounced the ministry's plan to publish a state-authored history textbook.
The plan under the Park Geun-hye administration was criticized as a means to impose a uniform conservative view of history on students.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Jongno Police Station are currently investigating the teachers.
"I request the adequate dealing of teachers' words and actions on the plan to introduce a state-authored history textbook, which was based on their conscience and beliefs as educators," the statement said.
Education Minister Kim Sang-kon Monday called for adequate handling of the cases involving teachers who criticized the government for the Sewol tragedy and its attempt to introduce a system of a single state-authored history textbook. Kim, also a deputy prime minister, made the recommendation in a statement submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and Seoul High and Supreme courts.
Teachers had collectively denounced the government for its inept dealing with the April 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which killed over 300 passengers _ mainly high school students on a school trip. The education ministry filed a complaint against 284 teachers who had taken part.
Among them, 32 currently face their second trial at the Seoul High Court.
"I request the appropriate handling of the case concerning the teachers, who sympathized with the pain of the Sewol tragedy, to see beyond the conflict to move toward integration and reconciliation," Kim said in his statement to the chiefs of the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court as well as the Prosecutor General.
In 2015 and 2016 the ministry also filed complaints against 86 teachers who denounced the ministry's plan to publish a state-authored history textbook.
The plan under the Park Geun-hye administration was criticized as a means to impose a uniform conservative view of history on students.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Jongno Police Station are currently investigating the teachers.
"I request the adequate dealing of teachers' words and actions on the plan to introduce a state-authored history textbook, which was based on their conscience and beliefs as educators," the statement said.
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