The horizontal logo of the Korea Hamkke Union of Disabled Teachers (JangGyoJo)

The Founding and Growth of the
Korea Hamkke Union of Disabled Teachers
(JangGyoJo)

With a Focus on UN CRPD Article 27
Korea-New Zealand International Seminar
UN CRPD Article 27: The Right to Work for Persons with Disabilities
August 25-27, 2025 | Seoul, Korea
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Introduction
The symbol logo of the Korea Hamkke Union of Disabled Teachers (JangGyoJo)

함께하는장애인교원노동조합

Korea Hamkke Union of Disabled Teachers

2
Speaker Introduction: Hunyong Kim
👨‍🏫

Hunyong Kim

📚 English Teacher, Sinmyung Middle School
👁️ Visual Impairment
📅 Teaching since 2010
🎯 4th Chairperson of JangGyoJo (2021-present)
"The identity of being a stranger motivated me to become a teacher who understands differences"

👤 Photo showing male teacher with professional attire

3
Speaker Introduction: Kim So Ra
👩‍🏫

Kim So Ra

📚 Special Education Teacher
♿ Physical Disability
📅 Teaching since 2011
🎯 Vice Chairperson of JangGyoJo
"Realizing 'I can do it too' led me to become a teacher who empowers others"

👤 Photo showing female teacher with professional attire

4
About Us
Large group photo showing approximately 50 union members at the 6th anniversary celebration event

206 Members | 5 Regional Branches | All Disability Categories

5
Overview of Today's Presentation

Part I

JangGyoJo as a Labor Union

Part II

Policy Engagement & Reforms

Part III

Anti-Discrimination Actions

Part IV

CRPD Article 27 Realization

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Part I: Historical Context
1990
Employment Promotion Act enacted - Teachers initially excluded from disability quota
2005
Amendment removes exemption - Teaching positions included in quota
2007
Separate recruitment track for disabled teachers begins (~5% quota)
2018
Organizing discussions begin - Need for formal labor union recognized
2019
July 6: JangGyoJo officially founded with 45 members

📅 Timeline showing key events from 1990 to 2019, with 2019 founding highlighted

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Historic Founding: July 6, 2019
Historic photo showing founding members at the inaugural ceremony with banner
45
Founding Members
World's First
Disabled Teachers' Union
All
Disability Categories
8
Growth to 2025: From 45 to 206 Members
45
100+
150+
206
2019 2021 2023 2025
Jeonnam (2021)
Seoul (2022)
Daejeon (2024)
Gyeonggi (2024)
Busan (2025)
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2023 Collective Agreement with Ministry of Education
49
Articles
62
Clauses
3
Years of Negotiation

📊 Infographic showing key numbers: 49 articles, 62 clauses, 3 years of negotiation

Photo showing officials from JangGyoJo and Ministry of Education at signing ceremony
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International Academic Recognition
Screenshot of the published article in Disability & Society online journal

Published in Disability & Society (2025)

Title: "We were hired but not employed: the formation and challenges of the Korea Hamkke Labour Union of Disabled Teachers"

Authors: Hwang, S., & Kim, H.

Significance: First global case study of disabled teachers' union

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Part II: Policy Engagement Timeline
2021: Educational Officials Act Amendment - Reasonable accommodation mandate
2022: National Assembly Forum on disabled teachers' rights
2023: Employment Promotion Act Amendment Bill submitted
2024: Elementary & Secondary Education Act Amendment
July 2025: Five Core Policy Proposals submitted to Presidential Transition Committee
August 2025: Meeting with KEAD President for support system reform

📅 Vertical timeline with green markers showing policy achievements from 2021 to 2025, with July 2025 policy proposal highlighted in orange

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Five Core Policy Proposals for Inclusive Teacher Policy (2025)
1. Special Act for Disabled Teachers Support
2. National & Regional Support Centers
3. Lifelong Support System
From training to retirement
4. Accessible Educational Environment
Mandatory accessibility requirements
5. Stakeholder Participation in Policy
Ensuring disabled teachers' voices in policy-making
₩40.75 Billion Annual Investment
Per-teacher support: ₩830,000 → ₩8,900,000 (10.7x increase)
A banner from a press conference on July 8, 2025, demanding inclusive policies for disabled teachers
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Personal Assistance at Work System Reform

Seven Priority Reforms Demanded (August 2025)

✓ Coverage during assistants' breaks
✓ Recruitment of qualified personnel
✓ Permission for remote support
✓ Faster assignment process
✓ Education-specific training
✓ Elimination of co-pay burden

✅ Six colored boxes showing reform demands in a 2x3 grid layout

JangGyoJo representatives meeting with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) to discuss improvements to the work support assistant system.
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Legislative and Policy Achievements

National Level

  • ✓ Educational Officials Act Amendment (2021)
  • ✓ Employment Promotion Act Bill (2023)
  • ✓ Elementary & Secondary Education Act (2024)

Local Level

  • ✓ Jeonnam Support Ordinance (2023)
  • ✓ Daejeon Ordinance Revitalized (2025)
  • ✓ Gyeonggi: KRW 5M/person budget

📋 Two-column layout showing national and local legislative achievements

Guidelines on Personnel Management for Disabled Teachers (2023)
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Ministry of Education Guidelines (2023)
The cover of the 'Personnel Management Guide for Disabled Teachers', jointly published by the Ministry of Education and 17 regional education offices.

Comprehensive guidelines for appointment, placement, support, and promotion of disabled teachers

16
Part III: NHRCK Recommendation on Communication Support
Deaf and Hard of Hearing teachers at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) after filing a discrimination complaint regarding communication support.

Timeline

  • Late 2022: Individual complaint filed
  • Early 2023: Collective complaint coordinated
  • April 2023: Ex officio investigation
  • Feb 2024: 14 offices found discriminatory
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Kaywon University of Art & Design Case
Photo showing protest banner reading 'Stop discrimination against disabled professor' at university entrance
Discrimination:
• Incompatible coursework assignment
• Derogatory remarks tolerated
• Fitness for counseling questioned
JangGyoJo Actions:
• Support since 2021
• NHRCK recommendation secured
• Multi-track strategy deployed
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Addressing Microaggressions & Structural Bias

Challenges:

• Jinju University manipulation scandal

• "Committee for Teachers with Illnesses"

• Professional authority undermined

Victories:

• Blind teacher appointed vice-principal

• Blind teacher became special school principal

• Welcome statements for appointments
19
Celebrating Success: Leadership Appointments

Breaking Barriers in School Leadership

Screenshot of a news article about Koo Man-ho, the first visually impaired vice-principal at a public high school
First Blind Vice-Principal
Public School
Screenshot of news article with headline about blind teacher becoming school principal
Blind Principal
from Student to Principal
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Part IV: CRPD Article 27 - Four Core Principles
🌍
Inclusive Labor Market
Open and accessible employment
🛠️
Reasonable Accommodation
Workplace adjustments and support
🤝
Trade Union Rights
Right to organize and bargain
📈
Employment Promotion
Active measures and attitude change
"On an equal basis with others"
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Korea's Achievements and Remaining Challenges
4,584
Disabled Teachers (2024)
1.49%
Of All Teachers
206
Union Members

Future Priorities

📌 Nationwide implementation of collective agreement
📌 500+ membership target
📌 Financial sustainability
22
Thank You | 감사합니다
The horizontal logo of the Korea Hamkke Union of Disabled Teachers (JangGyoJo)

"A Society Where Everyone Teaches and Learns Without Discrimination"

Contact Information
📞 +82 070-4131-3355
✉️ khudt@khudt.net
🌍 Seoul, Republic of Korea
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