South Chungcheong Province, the first of the seven cities and provinces to abolish the ‘Student Human Rights Ordinance’… after four rounds of voting

The Chungnam Student Human Rights Ordinance was eventually abolished after four votes in four months. This is the first time that a repeal bill has been passed among the seven cities and provinces with student human rights ordinances in effect.

The South Chungcheong Provincial Council held the 2nd plenary session of the 351st extraordinary session on the 24th and passed the ‘Reconsideration of the Ordinance to Abolish the Student Human Rights Ordinance’ with 48 members present, 34 in favor and 14 against. Among the 48 provincial council members, 32 belong to the People Power Party, 14 belong to the Democratic Party of Korea, and 2 are independent.

The requirement for passage of the reconsideration bill at the plenary session was met by the attendance of a majority of registered members and the approval of more than two-thirds (32 people) of the members present. The abolition of the Chungnam Student Human Rights Ordinance was voted on four times from December last year to this day, going through twists and turns of abolition, revival, and abolition.

The abolition bill proposed by People Power Party lawmakers, including Rep. Park Jeong-sik (Asan 3), was first passed at the plenary session on December 15 last year with 44 sitting lawmakers, 31 in favor and 13 against.

In order to prevent the abolition, the South Chungcheong Office of Education requested a reconsideration. Accordingly, in a re-vote held in February, the abolition bill was rejected as the requirement for approval by more than two-thirds of the members present was not met, with 43 members present, 27 in favor, 13 against, and 3 abstentions, and the Student Human Rights Ordinance was revived.

Then, the People Power Party again proposed the abolition bill, and at the plenary session held on the 19th of last month, the abolition bill was passed again with 34 members in favor and 34 in favor. Subsequently, the South Chungcheong Superintendent of Education requested a reconsideration, and on this day, another vote was held on the abolition bill, resulting in the abolition of the ordinance.

When the Provincial Council voted to abolish the Student Human Rights Ordinance, the South Chungcheong Office of Education protested and announced its intention to take legal action. If it is determined that the re-resolution violates the law, the Superintendent of Education may file a complaint to the Supreme Court within 20 days from the date of re-resolution.

In a statement, the South Chungcheong Office of Education said, “We are concerned that the policy to protect student human rights that has been steadily pursued will be retreated as this is the first decision in the country to abolish the Student Human Rights Ordinance,” and added, “We will proceed with the necessary legal procedures through in-depth discussions.” said.