Kwak resumes drive for student rights

Seoul educational superintendent Kwak No-hyun, on Friday signalled he would push for the implementation of a controversial plan to extend the human rights of students, resuming his drive for liberal educational reforms.

“There is no reason to delay the proclamation of the bill, which was approved by the city council,” Kwak said on his first day at work after being released from arrest a day earlier.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council had approved the bill that guarantees substantial liberties for students inside campus.

But Lee Dae-young, the deputy superintendent, declined to proclaim the bill and asked the council to re-deliberate it while Kwak was suspended from duties, awaiting trial.

Kwak’s renewed push for student rights, however, faced immediate opposition from the Ministry of Education, which said it would invoke its right to ask the superintendent to re-consider it.

The ministry said the bill, if realized, could trigger confusion inside the campus. The education minister can ask for the review when the bill or ordinance could destabilize society and the superintendent is obliged to determine whether the bill is appropriate or not, a ministry official said.

Kwak returned to work after nearly four months of arrest for charges of election bribery. He was convicted of the charges and received fines.

On 9:01 am, Kwak showed up at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in northern Seoul and shook hands with Lee waiting at the entrance.

“Nice to see you again. I am back. I will be heading straight to the work I have left,” Kwak told reporters as he walked to his office. He was briefed on the measures against rampant campus violence and talked with officials.

Alongside the proclamation of the ordinance, Kwak is expected to ban middle students from choosing their high schools, out of fear that they will be rushing to go only to lucrative and competitive schools.

The superintendent is also forecast to establish an advisory body filled with people outside the office.

“Kwak has a firm stance on his issues and has the drive to push them through. Many of the pending issues are expected to be concluded in the near future,” an office insider said.

But the future of Kwak’s project is not altogether rosy. On Friday, he faced opponents protesting his resumption of work.

About 20 people held up placards asking for Kwak’s resignation.

“A law-breaker should never be accepted in the educational field. The only way he can keep a modest amount of conscience is to resign,” shouted civic activists in front of Kwak’s office.

“Kwak is likely to suffer from these controversies until the Supreme Court ruling,” an observer said.

Kwak was convicted of giving 200 million won ($176,000) to a rival candidate through aides in exchange for the latter’s candidacy withdrawal during the superintendent election in 2010. He was fined to 30 million won on Thursday. Both Kwak and prosecutors appealed. 

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)