KTU Must Not Turn Blind Eye to Truth

“Education is about teaching the truth. And I believe that they must make confession before the truth of history. They must do so as teachers themselves,” wrote professor Suh Seung-jik at Inha University in a letter to the Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU).

His elder brother Suh Seung-mok killed himself caught in the confrontation between the progressive teachers group and school principals` organization while serving as principal at Bosung Primary School in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province.

In his three-page letter titled `100 Days after Death of Principal Suh,` he deplored the fact that no one has come forward to say sorry for the death of his brother.

“The incident has led to a collapse of one happy family, and from a broader perspective it is a malicious and premeditated act of intervention led by the so-called `those seeking reform for true education.` We must fully cooperate with the police investigation to find out the truth about his death.”

He said that he was disappointed at the way KTU reacted to the incident. They were taking collective actions and finger pointing, while saying they have sacrificed themselves for true education reform.

“It is their attitude, not the fact, that counts. It is even so because they are teachers. Seeing the way they responded to the death of my brother, I came to think that they are not true educators and cannot be a role model for young students.”

“As a teacher who was with students for 27 years and colleague who also worries about the future of this country`s education, I decided to write this letter to them,” Suh explained.

Suh showed the reporter a letter sent from China and wished that KTU will be born again as a teachers` group that wins public support.

The letter was sent by a man known as Hong on April 8, four days after the incident. Hong is a Korean living in Changchun in Jirin Province in China. “I feel guilty as a former member of KTU. When my friends and I first decided to form the organization, we were determined to stop the education community from serving as a pawn of a dictator. Then, the organization became one of many radical labor unions and launched labor campaigns, so we had to withdraw from the group,” he wrote.

“I wish to see no more victim like my brother,” said Suh in the end of the letter. “I am not seeking a criminal charge but I ask the authorities to investigate this case thoroughly so that the truth reveals itself.”

run-juno@donga.com