In the election for the 40th president of the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations (KFTA), Kang Joo-ho (38), a teacher at Jinju Dong Middle School in Gyeongnam, was elected. Born in 1986, Kang is the KFTA's first president in their 30s and the youngest president in its history.
The KFTA announced on the 11th that Kang was elected in the online election held from the 5th to the 10th, securing a total vote of 50.66%. Kang's term as the new president starts today and lasts for three years.
Kang has served in various roles in the KFTA, including chairman of the teacher's rights division of the 2030 youth committee, policy advisory committee member, and spokesperson. He has also been a vocal advocate for teacher's rights, participating in solo protests in front of the National Assembly to call for legislation and salary increase allowances.
In this election, he put forward pledges with the theme, 'Teachers are the foundation of schools, and protecting teachers ensures the survival of schools,' advocating for revisions to the Child Welfare Act and Child Abuse Punishment Act, as well as creating protective measures for low-experience teachers to adapt to the field.
Kang stated, 'I believe that protecting teachers ensures the survival of schools, and for education to be properly established, schools must thrive.' Kang added, 'I will do my utmost to create schools that respect veteran teachers who have dedicated their lives to education and safeguard the convictions of new teachers just starting their careers.'
Kang's running mates elected as vice presidents include Kim Sung-jong, principal of Wirae Elementary School in Chungnam (senior vice president), Kim Sun, teacher at Dunjun Elementary School in Gyeonggi, Wang Han-yeol, principal of Haknam High School in Daegu, Kim Jin-young, school health teacher at Kyungbok Business High School in Seoul, and Sim Chang-yong, professor at Gyeongin National University of Education in Incheon.
Meanwhile, this election was held six months after the 39th presidential election in June. This follows the resignation of the then-elected president Park Jeong-hyeon, who stepped down a week after the election after it was revealed that Park had sent inappropriate notes to a student in the past and received disciplinary action.