Four members of a radical teachers’ association have been indicted for alleged pro-North Korean activities, said the prosecution on Thursday.
The teachers were charged without detention for violating the National Security Act. The Seoul Central District Prosecution said they founded an organization called “New Era Education Movement” and taught young students with pro-North Korean materials.
One elementary school teacher posted a quote by former communist leader Kim Jong-il at the back of his classroom. Another possessed North Korean books including its founder Kim Il-sung’s autobiography. The prosecution reported that the pro-communist teacher copied and distributed the material for study activities.
The organization had 13 branches throughout the country and 180 members. The illegal group worked within the progressive Korea Teachers and Education Worker’s Union, and used the larger body as a cover to collect and teach North Korea propaganda, the prosecution said.
“There have been cases in which individual members of the KTU breached the National Security Act, but this is the first time that they created an illicit group,” the office said.
By Lee Sang-ju (
sjlee370@heraldcorp.com)
