20 descendants of independence activists submit joint petition supporting the construction of Yeo Myeong School on its current site

Twenty descendants of independence activists have drafted a joint petition supporting the construction of the school within the current site of Yeo Myeong School, an alternative school for adolescents with North Korean defector backgrounds. They plan to deliver the petition to the Seoul Metropolitan Council on October 19.

The descendants participating in the petition emphasized, “The motherland our ancestors dreamed of was an inclusive nation where all children learn without discrimination, regardless of their origin or background,” and stressed that establishing a stable educational environment for Yeo Myeong School is the way to inherit the will of their ancestors. They pointed out the reality that Yeo Myeong School has moved between rented classrooms for 22 years, and argued that prompt measures are needed as the period for using temporary classrooms is set to expire in February 2027.

This petition emphasizes the issue from a humanitarian perspective of guaranteeing the right to education and the effectiveness of the construction plan utilizing private funds. However, with policy disagreements still remaining between the Office of Education and the Council, attention is focused on how this petition from the descendants will act as a variable in practical decision-making.

Currently, the Yeo Myeong School construction project is being promoted entirely with private funds through a four-party agreement between the Ministry of Unification, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, Hyundai Motor Group, and the school. The descendants urged the Education Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council to deliberate and resolve the construction plan, setting aside political calculations.

Read the original (Korean)