Teachers’ union seeks payment from lawmaker

By Bae Ji-sook

Staff reporter

A progressive teachers' union said Monday it will push to receive legally granted compensation from a lawmaker who disclosed the group's membership registry despite a court ban.

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) said Monday that it won court approval to pursue seizing property belonging to Rep. Cho Jeon-hyeok of the Grand National Party last week. It also plans to send relevant documents to banks and other financial institutions Cho has dealings with.

The KTU is targeting movable assets such as bank savings and Cho's salary. Real estate such as his residence and other property will be excluded for humanitarian reasons and the complexity of the procedure.

"Cho insulted all teachers by disobeying the court's orders and keeping his denouncement against our group. He previously vowed to pay the money but to this date has showed no willingness to put his words into action," the group stated Monday.

In April, Cho disclosed a list of KTU members on his website despite the Seoul Southern District Court's ruling against this move.

At that time, Cho said the revelation was necessary since "leftist teachers are skewing public education and parents have every right to know who the members are."

He referred to the KTU opposing many governmental policies and conservative educational methodology. He posted the registry, including the names and schools of the KTU members, for five days, from Apr. 30 to May 4.

A local court again ordered Cho to pay a total of 150 million won, equivalent to 30 million won for each day the list was disclosed, and also issued a writ of execution.

The KTU has been reluctant to execute its rights since Cho is a lawmaker but stated the change of direction after Cho accused them of "trying to threaten a legislator's conviction and beliefs with a penalty."

Cho said Monday that he is ready to pay the money. In a radio interview, he said, "Many people have supported me and sent donations. I don't really have many assets to offer and everybody knows that. The only money they could take is my salary, but I don't think the KTU will really seize a lawmaker's wages. That doesn't sound nice."

He said he will deliver the money in person to the union once he raises it from his supporters, colleagues and relatives.

Cho stood firm on his decision to disclose the registry.

"I believe what I did was right. I have appealed and have also filed a petition to the Constitutional Court."

전교조, 회원명단 공개한 조전혁 의원 재산 압류

전국교직원노동조합(전교조)이 회원 명단을 공개한 한나라당 조전혁 의원의 금융재산을 압류하기 위한 절차에 착수했다.

전교조는 12일 '금융기관에 결정문 송달 즉시 이를 집행할 것'이라는 제하 아래 "6월 초, 인천지방법원에 이행강제금에 대한 채권압류추심결정을 신청하고 지난 8일 결정문을 받았다"면서 "추심결정문이 조 의원 개인계좌가 개설되어 있는 금융기관에 송달 되는대로 이를 집행할 예정"이라고 밝혔다.

이와 관련, 조 의원은 △지난 4월 15일 서울 남부지법 명단공개금지 가처분 인용판결에도 불구하고 △4월 19일 자신의 홈페이지에 명단을 공개했다.

이에 △서울 남부지법은 4월 27일 명단공개 금지 가처분 인용 및 간접강제 인용판결을 내렸다(1일 3천만원). 이후 △5월 11일 서울남부지법은 (간접 강제금) 1억 5천만원 강제집행문을 발부했다.

이에 대해 조 의원은 이날 국회 정론관에서 기자회견을 갖고 "전교조의 추심의지가 확인된 만큼 매월 일부씩이라도 강제이행금을 직접 전교조에 납부할 것"이라면서도 "이번 선거에서 친전교조성향 교육감을 네 명이나 당선시킨 전교조가 명단공개로 어떤 피해를 보았는지 설명이 되지 않는다"고 했다.