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The chief of the nation's leading teachers union yesterday began a hunger strike, calling on the Education Ministry to show "sincerity" in negotiations.

Lee Boo-young of the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers' Union (KTU) launched the strike near the back gate of the Government Complex in central Seoul, protesting the ministry's lack of response to the KTU's demands for specific pay raise figures and more autonomy in collective action.

"The KTU and the ministry initially agreed to come up with an agreement by May 20, but the ministry is being insincere," KTU spokesperson Lee Kyong-hee said.

After initial talks broke down in September last year, the teachers' union and the ministry resumed negotiations this March with an agreement to hammer out an accord on a number of issues by May 20.

Since March, the two sides have tackled about 70 educational issues, and have reached agreements on some 30.

But the main bone of contention is over a proposal to allow the formation of teachers' union at individual schools and the holding of collective action during regular school hours.

The KTU remains committed to its demands, while the ministry has said it will not yield, emphasizing that students' right to learn takes precedence over teachers' right to collective action.

On the pay raise issue, the KTU wants the ministry to write into any agreement a pledge made by the education minister several weeks ago to raise salaries by 50,000 won per month over the next four years.

Teachers' unions were banned until last year, although the nation's teachers have engaged in union activities since 1989. The government's refusal to recognize their activities forced some 1,500 teachers from their jobs over the past decade.

Only last January did the National Assembly pass a law allowing teachers to form trade unions.

The law sets no limits on the number of teachers' unions, but prohibits teachers unions at individual schools. The law also bars teachers from collective action during normal working hours.

KTU officials said they will expand the hunger strike to include 25 officials of its executive committee by June 1 if the ministry does not respond to its demands.

It also threatened to hold a group demonstration involving some 1,500 teachers by June 8.