15 people indicate their intention to run for the election on October 16,
, Progressives call for “impeachment of political prosecution,” while conservatives call for “purifying leftist ideologies”
Ideological war ensues, with controversies over morality and qualifications
progressive candidate Kim Kyung-beom promises to abolish ‘private admissions’
former member of parliament Jo Jeon-hyeok involved in leakage of entrance exam reform bill
Education community states “urgent need for election reform discussion”,
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| On the 5th, candidates from the 2024 Seoul Democratic Progressive Education Commissioner Task Force (Kang Shin-man, Kwak No-hyun, Kim Kyung-beom, Kim Yong-seo, Kim Jae-hong, Ahn Seung-moon, Jung Geun-sik, Hong Je-nam) held a press conference to consolidate the 2024 Seoul Democratic Progressive Education Commissioner Single Candidate at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu. Newsis |
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, The superintendent of education has the duty of political neutrality, but the election has already become a stage for political competition. Kwak No-hyun, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent who was dismissed from office 12 years ago on suspicion of violating election laws, declared his re-candidacy with the pledge of ‘impeaching political prosecution.’
, Kwak, former Superintendent of Education, stated during the press conference for his candidacy on the 5th, “I came out with three impeachment tasks against political powers,” and “The impeachment of power that drove out Jo Hee-yeon, the Education Minister, and the ‘intermediate judgment’ heading towards a ‘bigger impeachment’ is that.” Kwak, former Superintendent of Education, indirectly acknowledged the ‘bigger impeachment’ when asked if it referred to the impeachment of the president, saying, “If you have ears, you will understand.”
, On the same day, conservative candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok, former member of the Hannara Party, stated, “In the past ten years, education in Seoul has been contaminated by leftist forces. We need to cleanse the schools polluted by ideologies.” The education superintendent election, which should be free from ideologies, appears to have turned into a ideological war between progressives and conservatives.
, Progressive candidate Kim Kyung-beom, a professor in the Department of Western Studies at Seoul National University, is also facing controversy over his proposal to abolish ‘private admissions’ in September. Professor Kim stated, “If we cannot change admissions, we cannot achieve any educational values,” and “I will push for the legislation of abolishing private admissions in cooperation with the National Assembly.” Many argue that this promise is inappropriate as the Seoul Superintendent of Education is responsible for education in Seoul, not the admission system. A parent in Seoul, Mr. A, criticized, “It is absurd that the superintendent of education is changing, and the candidates seem to have no regard for Seoul education.”
, Criticisms also emerged regarding the moral qualities of the candidates. Kwak, former Superintendent of Education, was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison for offering 200 million won as a bribe to another candidate in the 2010 election under the condition of unification. Jo, former member of parliament, sparked a controversy in the 2022 election when an audio file was released where he called another candidate ‘crazy.’
, Professor Kim was identified as the cause of the leakage of the ‘2028 Entrance Exam Reform Bill Draft’ last year. In October last year, the ‘2028 Entrance Exam Reform Draft’ by the Ministry of Education spread on social networking services before its official announcement, and it was confirmed that Professor Kim had leaked the document to the press. Professor Kim responded, “I do not feel responsible for the leakage incident.”
, An education industry official stated, “The education superintendent election often receives criticism for being a ‘waste of taxpayers’ money’ due to low voter interest, and the candidates are further increasing fatigue with political sparring and verbal abuse.” He emphasized the need for active discussion on the reform of the education superintendent election.
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