Seoul Performing Arts High School Retains Arts High School Status... "Reevaluation in 2 Years"

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Protects Prospective Students' Learning Rights After Hearing
Gives Schools Opportunity to Implement Proposed Normalization Measures

Seoul Performing Arts High School

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Seoul Performing Arts High School (Seogongye), which had its designation as a special-purpose high school for the arts revoked, will undergo reevaluation after two years instead of an immediate cancellation.

On the 13th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education held a hearing regarding Seogongye and announced on the 23rd that, based on the results, the Special-Purpose High School Designation and Operation Committee held on the 22nd made this final decision.

Seogongye was found to have mobilized students for external events and improperly managed expenses, leading to the revocation of its special-purpose high school designation at the Arts Special-Purpose High School Designation and Operation Committee meeting held on the 26th of last month.

Through the subsequent hearing process, Seogongye strongly expressed its efforts and commitment to achieving the purpose of its designation. The school stated, "We will restore trust through strong self-remedial measures addressing the infringement of students' right to learn caused by mobilizing them for external events, replacement of management, improvement of the school environment, and enhanced communication with school members."

The Metropolitan Office of Education judged that it is reasonable to conduct a reevaluation after two years to protect the rights and learning rights of prospective students nationwide currently preparing to enter special-purpose high schools and to provide the school with an opportunity to implement its proposed school normalization plan. Instead, the evaluation, usually conducted every five years, was advanced. If the reevaluation results are deemed insufficient, immediate cancellation of the designation will be pursued. A representative from the Metropolitan Office of Education said, "We will thoroughly guide the school through supervision to ensure that the school normalization plan is effectively implemented and that the school operates in accordance with the purpose of the special-purpose high school designation."