Four Examinees Submit Constitutional Complaint to Constitutional Court
Seoul National University Confirms Inclusion of Subject Evaluation in Late April Regular Admission
Yang Daerim States, "Legal Requirements Met, Expect Substantive Judgment"
"Ambiguous Qualitative Evaluation Criteria"... Criticism of Opportunity Deprivation for Examinees Focused on Regular Admission
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] As it was confirmed that Seoul National University will reflect academic performance evaluation in the regular admission screening starting from 2023, when current high school sophomores enter university, examinees have refiled a constitutional complaint.
On the 8th, Yang Daerim, a student preparing for the qualification exam, and four high school students filed a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court on the 6th, claiming that Seoul National University's 2023 university admission screening violated the right to equality. This is the second time examinees have filed a constitutional complaint against Seoul National University's admission screening, following the first in November last year.
Seoul National University announced in October last year that it would reflect academic performance evaluation in the regular admission general screening for the 2023 academic year. This implementation plan passed the University Education Council's review at the end of last year, and Seoul National University announced the finalized admission screening plan on the 29th of last month.
The 'academic performance evaluation' in the 2023 regular admission general screening refers to evaluating the diligence in course completion and excellence in academic achievement. In the first stage, candidates are selected at twice the number based on 100% CSAT scores, and in the second stage evaluation, 80 points from the first stage scores and 20 points from the academic performance evaluation will be reflected. Examinees filed the constitutional complaint, raising issues such as violation of examinees' right to equality and breach of trust protection.
Seoul National University had not reflected academic performance evaluation in the regular admission screening for the past eight years until the 2022 academic year but announced plans to include school records in the regular general admission screening starting from the 2023 academic year. In December last year, the Constitutional Court dismissed the constitutional complaint, stating that since changes could occur during the University Education Council's review process, it was not subject to constitutional complaint.
Regarding the reason for refiling the constitutional complaint, Yang Daerim said, "If academic performance evaluation is introduced, students who had poor academic records in the past will not be selected, making it difficult to properly reflect students' abilities." He added, "During the previous constitutional complaint, it was dismissed because there was a possibility it would not be implemented, so there was no practical benefit in judging at that stage, but this time, the legal requirements are met, and I expect a substantive judgment."
Yang, who is the same age as current high school seniors, aspires to enter Seoul National University's College of Medicine. Since Yang dropped out of high school to focus on CSAT-centered study aiming to apply through Seoul National University's regular admission, his situation is even more desperate.
The petitioners also raised the issue that the academic performance evaluation is conducted as a 'qualitative evaluation.' They pointed out that including the same evaluation method as early admission in the regular admission screening deprives students, including those preparing for the qualification exam who have focused on CSAT, of opportunities.
Yang and other petitioners stated, "Eight years ago, academic performance evaluation was quantitative, but this time, two admission officers qualitatively evaluate and aggregate the scores." They added, "Qualification exam graduates have regarded the regular general admission screening, which is a substantial opportunity, as a true chance rather than the early admission general screening, which is a formal opportunity. If 'qualitative evaluation' is introduced in the substitute form for school life records, even that door of opportunity will be closed."
Yang explained, "I believe that Seoul National University's use of academic performance evaluation as an admission element has effectively nullified the government's policy to expand regular admissions." He continued, "I think the constitutional complaint is the only legal remedy, and the Constitutional Court should determine whether it is unconstitutional or not to prevent such incidents from happening."
He also pointed out that the change in the admission screening applied to current high school sophomores, who will be subject to the 2023 admission screening, could cause harm. Yang said, "Although the change in the screening was announced in October last year, students who had already taken final exams and prepared aiming for Seoul National University cannot avoid being harmed." He added, "Among Seoul National University applicants, there are many repeaters, and they were told that school grades would not be considered, but the sudden change felt like a betrayal to all."
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