Unstable First Win for Private High School... Fate of Existence Depends on 'Heonjae'

Limited to Cancellation of Designation for Baejae and Sehwa High Schools
Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Already Amended
Depends on Next Year's Constitutional Court Ruling

'People's Coalition for a Fair Society' officials are shouting slogans during a press conference opposing the cancellation of autonomous private high schools in front of the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 25th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Although autonomous private high schools (Jasago) have consecutively won lawsuits against the cancellation of their designation, they still stand at a crossroads regarding their existence. This is because the education authorities have decided to appeal, meaning the battle will continue through the second trial and the Supreme Court, and the schedule for conversion to general high schools in 2025 will proceed as planned. With the Constitutional Court's judgment still pending, confusion in the education sector is inevitable for the time being.

On the 18th, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's cancellation of the autonomous private high school designation for Paichai High School and Sehwa High School was unjust. Following Busan Haeundae High School, Paichai and Sehwa High Schools will be able to maintain their Jasago status. Starting with the first trial verdict for Sungmoon High School and Shinil High School on the 23rd of next month, rulings for the remaining six Jasago schools whose designations were canceled last August are also expected. However, Seoul Mayor of Education Cho Hee-yeon stated, "This ruling goes against educational reforms aimed at reducing excessive private education expenses and normalizing public high school education, and we will immediately appeal."

Although Jasago schools have won one victory, this ruling is limited to the 'designation cancellation' and does not affect the policy to abolish Jasago. The Ministry of Education has already amended the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to take effect from March 2025. The provisions specifying 'autonomous private high schools' in Article 91, Paragraph 3, and 'autonomous public high schools' in Paragraph 4 will be deleted after four years. Accordingly, in May last year, 24 Jasago and international high schools filed a constitutional complaint, and the results are expected to be announced sometime next year. Ultimately, even if the cancellation of Jasago designation is invalidated, the lifespan of Jasago will only remain for four more years.

Ko Jin-young, principal of Paichai High School, said, "Three legal teams representing Jasago, foreign language high schools, and specialized high schools have filed a constitutional complaint, and through this, I firmly believe that the enforcement decree converting Jasago to general high schools in 2025 will be repealed and the abolition of Jasago will be withdrawn."

Due to the government's policy to abolish Jasago, the admission competition rate for Jasago and foreign language high schools this year decreased compared to last year. Among the 20 Jasago schools in Seoul, 10 schools had fewer applicants than available spots in the general admission track. The overall competition rate was only 1.09 to 1 for the general admission track, and 1.25 to 1 for foreign language high schools.

The Ministry of Education plans to strengthen the capabilities of general high schools by introducing a high school credit system, aiming to resolve the hierarchical structure among high schools including Jasago. Although it is promoted that in-depth education will be possible through elective subjects by school, some express concerns that this may further fuel the preference for prestigious schools.

Lim Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy Haneul Education, said, "If competition for common subjects in the first year of high school intensifies and it becomes difficult to increase comprehensive student record screening, there may be a preference for excellent schools that achieve high scores on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)."