• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.54
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• pp.32-57
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• 2011

This study examined how the Korean courts have made a balance between rights of school teachers' expression and the public interests derived from regulating their rights for expression in related cases. Under the Korean laws such as National Public Service Law and the Law on Assembly and Demonstration, school teachers are considered as civil servants and basically not allowed to assemble to demonstrate for their own interests. The analysis revealed that in 24 cases from a total of 31 teacher-related court cases, teachers were found guilty in violation of related laws. In deciding whether the teachers' participation on anti-government assembly was guilty or not, the courts put an emphasis on public purpose of their expression, the degree to which their expressions affect the society, and specific contents of their expression. Conclusively, it was found out that in applying the related law, Korean courts tend to overweigh the public interests, rather than the teachers' right to express.