The KTU finally received official recognition in 1999 after the election of Kim Dae-Jung and many of the dismissed teachers were allowed to return to their former positions.
A major contributor to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the KTU has been criticized by conservative media outlets for promoting pro-North Korea ideology.
[10][11] Per request by the KTU, the Education International, a multinational federation of teachers' unions, protested the investigations in a formal letter.
[13] In February 2011, the Seoul Metropolitan Education Board approved two KTU-affiliated school principals that caused controversies in their admission process.
[15] On May 16, 2011, the head of a conservative parents' interest group Gyohakyeon (교육과 학교를 위한 학부모 연합) sent letters to approximately 60,000 KTU-affiliated teachers to resign their affiliation with KTU.