Seoul Warns Union On Political Activity

Han Wan-sang, deputy prime minister for education and human resources development, said Thursday that teachers' unions will not be allowed to endorse or blacklist political parties or candidates.

"The announcement by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Asssociations that it will participate in the political process in such a manner goes against the constitution and the State Public Officials Act," Mr. Han said.

The federation, the nation's largest association of teachers, declared early this week that it will endorse and blacklist political parties and candidates in June 2002 local elections.

"For teachers to advocate or oppose a specific political party does not fit with their goal of educating students to be democratic citizens," Mr. Han said at a meeting with leaders of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. "Their political participation would cause a conflict with other government employees who are barred from public political activism."

Mr. Han added that the government is pushing forward with a number of projects to raise the salaries of teachers.

by Lee Jung-min