Jeong-sun Chun, First-ever North Korean Defector to Turn Teacher

Chun Jeong-sun , a North Korean who escaped her country and made her way to South Korea, made headlines this time as the first-ever North Korean defector to become a school teacher.　

Ever since coming to South Korea, Ms. Chun had tried out for several jobs such as insurance saleswoman and chef, but had found nothing suitable. Her qualifications as a Math teacher with 11 years of experience in North Korean schools had meant nothing in South Korea.

But where there is a will, there is a way. Ms. Chun started teaching Mathematics again this spring semester, at Sungji Middle and High School, a school embracing alternative education. Kim Han Tae, Sungji's schoolmaster, had offered her the job, believing that being taught by a North Korean would be in itself a significant lesson on reunification for the students. For Ms. Chun, lack of official credentials means a meager salary, since she is not eligible for financial support from the city's education department. Nevertheless, she is on cloud nine simply because she is proudly earning money to support herself. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, she plans to earn a teacher's degree at the National Open University. She yearns for the day when she can teach to her heart's content in a reunified Korea.

reported by Han Park Jung-mi  ,  woodfish@womennews.co.kr  

A group of traditional right-wing authors of Japanese history textbooks (led by Kanji Nishio) has produced a history textbook which waters down Japan's wartime atrocities under the pretext of boosting national pride. This move has influenced the collective fate of the other seven history textbooks, which now seem set for a revision for the worse.　

The textbook in question, now awaiting the Japanese Education Ministry's authorization, may be revised slightly in light of the vigorous protests from ex-Japanese colonies such as Korea and China. But unless a fundamental shift occurs in Japan's historic point of view, there is little hope of any significant improvement.　

In particular, the issue of sex slaves recruited by the Japanese military, which is not even mentioned in the textbook, is in danger of disappearing for good. The Education Ministry can ask the publisher to revise a certain part of the textbook, but it cannot demand that new information be added.　

On March 14, more than 50 civic and academic groups including the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan and the Korea Teachers' Union joined hands to launch a committee aimed at stopping Japanese textbooks from distorting history.　

The committee issued a statement calling on the Japanese government to halt attempts to fiddle with history and to support honest history education. It demanded that the truth of Japanese aggressions be revealed thoroughly, and that the honor of the victims be restored. The committee also called on the Korean government to use all the diplomatic means available to put a stop to Japan's distortion of history, and to launch a complete review of the sections in Korean history textbooks that mention forced enlistment of comfort women.　

The committee plans to join other Asian civic groups in declaring March 24 'The Asians Against Japanese History Textbooks Day' and organizing a protest rally.

The issue of a committee within the Catholic Church dedicated to women's affairs has been raised every year by catholic women since the Beijing World Women's Conference in 1995. But it was not even included in the agenda of the Bishops' Conference until the General Meeting in autumn last year.　

The women's subcommittee convened its first meeting on March 2 and established its purpose as follows: ▲changing the Church's overall regard of women ▲developing women's leadership and capabilities ▲increasing cooperation between men and women within the Church ▲making women's activities the light of society. The committee will play an active role in social issues through its Social Participation and Human Rights departments. It is also planning to fight against sexual and domestic violence and other forms of infringement of women's human rights.　

Ms.  Lee Young-ja, the first chairperson of the women's subcommittee, says, "Instead of just insisting on upholding tradition, Catholicism should embrace equality and peace befitting the 21st century." She intends to call on the Church to overcome its conservatism and bring about actual equality within the Catholic order.　

reported by Cho Lee Yeu-wool , cognate@womennews.co.kr   

▶  Over 300 young woman activists at the Mar. 8 Rally in Myongdong organized by the 'Difference Is Power! Women's Alliance' <Photograph by Yang Kye-tak>　

reported by Cho Lee  Yeu-wool ,  cognate@womennews.co.kr