The Korean National Federation of Folk Arts Organizations (Minye Chong) issued a statement on the 18th urging for an acquittal for Baek Geum-ryul, known as the "Sorikkun Teacher," who has been indicted for violating the National Public Officials Act.

Baek Geum-ryul is a Chinese character teacher and a pansori singer who has a long history of hosting traditional music broadcasts and engaging in civic activities. He has won awards such as the Gold Prize at the National Traditional Music Competition and the title of Master Singer in Boseong Sorikkun. He has been known for taking on social responsibilities at public gatherings and criticizing corruption among those in power through his performances, raising his voice alongside citizens.

However, his activities led to charges under Article 65 of the National Public Officials Act, resulting in a trial that concluded with the appellate court arguments on the 13th at the Seoul High Court. The final verdict is expected to be delivered on September 24th.

In their statement, Minye Chong emphasized that "satire and parody are the healthiest forms of criticism in a democratic society," and condemned the act of criminalizing simple artistic expressions that do not support a specific party or violate election laws as a direct challenge to the spirit of the constitution. They added, "Baek Geum-ryul's pansori is not just a performance but the voice of civil society and the sentiment of the public square."

Furthermore, Minye Chong demanded the court to △acquit Baek Geum-ryul △respect freedom of artistic expression △uphold constitutional rights.

This ruling is expected to be a significant milestone that goes beyond the individual's legal disposition, assessing the freedom of artistic expression and the protection of political basic rights for teachers.