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Why education chiefs matter in S. Korean politics
As debates over regional integration gather pace across South Korea, an unexpected group of political actors is stepping into the limelight: provincial and metropolitan superintendents of education. Education chiefs are increasingly positioning themselves as central stakeholders in negotiations over potential mergers between Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province, and Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. Their growing involvement reflects concerns that integration could alter the structure of loca
Jan. 31, 2026 -
Teacher who protected her students from sexual attacks reinstated
The Seoul Administrative Court erupted in applause Thursday after a judge ruled in favor of teacher Ji Hye-bok, nullifying a transfer order issued by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s Jungbu District Office and reinstating her as an instructor. Ji played a crucial role in publicizing mass sexual violence and harassment against the majority female students at her school in 2023, for which male students were held responsible. She applied for relief from a violation of student rights wit
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Education chiefs urge fiscal safeguards, expanded vice superintendent positions in regional integration push
As South Korea pushes for regional administrative integration, the country’s top education leaders on Thursday urged lawmakers to ensure that the move toward a “megaregion” governance system does not undermine educational autonomy. “We request that the integration proceed in a constructive manner that protects the constitutional values of educational autonomy,” said the National Association of Superintendents of Education of Korea, which represents the heads of all 17 provincial and metropolitan
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Sejong University to launch international summer program
Sejong University said Thursday it will launch a four-week international summer program for outstanding undergraduate students from around the world starting this year. The university announced that the Sejong International Summer Program will run from June 29 to July 24, aligning with Sejong University’s summer semester. The program is open to undergraduates from partner institutions and global universities. Participants will be able to take up to six academic credits across a range of discipli
Jan. 29, 2026 -
Seoul eyes free kindergarten, expanded student support, AI-learning in classrooms
Seoul Education Superintendent Jung Geun-sik on Wednesday pledged to reshape classrooms for the artificial intelligence era and expand education subsidies for 3-year-olds, setting out the city's 2026 vision for cultivating future-ready talent. Building on that pledge, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education mapped out a broader reform blueprint for the 2026 academic year, saying it will strengthen accountability-based learning, expand future talent programs and create a safer school environme
Jan. 28, 2026 -
Doctor shortage fix? Policy may spark moves to regional high schools
Seven out of 10 students and parents believe the government’s plan to introduce a regional doctor system could prompt strategic transfers to high schools outside Seoul, a study released Tuesday found. According to the study published by Jongno Hagwon, a major college entrance preparatory academy, 69.8 percent of the 975 students and parents surveyed said they expected to see an increase in student movement to regions eligible for the regional doctor system, once the policy is enacted. Under the
Jan. 27, 2026 -
Ministry to expand social and emotional learning nationwide for student well-being
Social and emotional learning programs aimed at strengthening students’ mental well-being will be expanded nationwide at all elementary, middle and high schools starting in the new school year, the Ministry of Education said Tuesday. Social and emotional education refers to a program piloted by the Education Ministry at select schools in 2025, designed to strengthen core competencies such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, self-care, relationship-building and awareness of community values.
Jan. 27, 2026 -
Jeju teacher died 'in line of duty' after parent dispute, committee determines
A middle school teacher in Jeju, surnamed Hyun, who died in May 2025 after experiencing conflict with a student’s family was officially recognized Monday as having died in the course of carrying out his duties. According to teacher groups, a review committee convened at the Teachers’ Pension on Monday ruled that Hyun’s death constituted a workplace death. The Teachers’ Pension is a public institution under the Education Ministry that manages pension funds for private school teachers. “The recogn
Jan. 27, 2026 -
'We are not the school's ATM'
'WE ARE NOT THE SCHOOL'S ATM' — Students at Ewha Womans University hold placards reading “We condemn the university that treats its students like ATMs” during a press conference Monday opposing a planned tuition hike, amid moves by private universities to raise fees following eased government regulations. Ewha’s Tuition Review Committee met Wednesday to decide tuition rates for the 2026 academic year.
Jan. 26, 2026 -
When politics reaches the venue: Why Seoul’s student rights event is facing obstacles
The location for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s annual Student Rights Memorial Day event has become a topic of political dispute, with allegations that the city council members applied what some say is “unfair pressure” to switch the venue Members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from the People Power Party — the council’s conservative majority — reportedly requested to move the event out of an auditorium on the council’s premises. Due to the last-minute complications, the SMOE told r
Jan. 25, 2026 -
1 in 4 Koreans say Suneung should be biggest factor in university admissions: survey
About one in four Koreans believe universities should place the greatest emphasis on the College Scholastic Ability Test, or Suneung, when selecting students for admission, a survey found Sunday. A recent public opinion poll of 4,000 adults nationwide, conducted by the state-run Korea Educational Development Institute, found that 25.8 percent said the CSAT should be the most heavily weighted factor in university admissions. Volunteer work and character assessment came next, with 24.8 percent, wh
Jan. 25, 2026 -
Employment gap between humanities and science majors drops to 10-year low
Data released Sunday showed that the employment rate gap last year between college graduates majoring in the humanities and those in natural sciences fell below 5 percentage points, marking the narrowest difference in the past decade. According to data released by Jongno Hagwon, a major college entrance preparatory academy, the employment rate among humanities graduates stood at 59.9 percent in 2025, while natural science majors recorded an employment rate of 63.3 percent. The gap, at 3.4 percen
Jan. 25, 2026 -
Authorities to directly intervene in teachers’ rights violation cases
The Ministry of Education on Thursday announced a package of measures aimed at strengthening protections for teachers’ rights and curbing malicious complaints against educators, allowing more direct intervention from the authorities in such cases. Under the plan, when serious violations of teachers’ authority -- including assault or sexual harassment -- occur, the Teachers’ Authority Protection Committee will recommend that the region’s superintendents file criminal complaints against students o
Jan. 22, 2026 -
As regions merge, who speaks for schools?
As South Korea accelerates plans to merge cities and provinces, education stakeholders warn that the push for administrative efficiency is coming at the expense of educational autonomy. Critics say the mergers, framed as a response to population decline, risk reshaping core elements of education governance, from the structure of local education offices to teacher assignments and superintendent elections, without meaningful consultation with educators, students or parents. On Jan. 14, the Nationa
Jan. 21, 2026 -
Education Ministry to toughen rules after exam question scandal
The Ministry of Education said Tuesday that it is preparing new regulations to prevent private academy instructors from buying and selling questions for school tests and the mock college entrance exam, following a series of high-profile indictments. “We will work to amend the Private Teaching Institute Act to provide clear legal grounds for punishment or sanctions against private academy instructors and operators who engage in illegal practices,” an Education Ministry official said. "We will rev
Jan. 20, 2026