Complete 10:0 Defeat to Ansan Dongsan High School... Autonomous Private High School "Will Hold Civil and Criminal Liability" (Comprehensive)

Cancellation of Dongsan High School Designation Declared Invalid in First Trial
Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Announces Immediate Appeal
Autonomous Private High School Union: "Causing Massive Confusion, Campaign for Superintendent's Resignation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Autonomous private high schools (Jasago) have won 10 lawsuits against education offices, including a victory in the lawsuit to nullify the cancellation of the autonomous private high school designation for Ansan Dongsan High School.

On the 8th, the Administrative Division 4 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Song Seung-woo) ruled in favor of Ansan Dongsan High School in the lawsuit filed by the Dongsan Academy Foundation against the Gyeonggi-do Office of Education to cancel the designation cancellation of the autonomous private high school.

The court stated, "There were many changes in the evaluation criteria in 2014 and 2019, but the plaintiff should have been notified in advance so that they could know before the evaluation period. However, the criteria were changed and notified only around the end of the evaluation period."

The court added, "The cancellation of the autonomous private high school designation goes against the legislative intent of the prior announcement system for disposition standards, and it is an abuse of discretion that violates the request for fair evaluation derived from the essence of the renewal system and the principle of due process."

Dongsan High School was canceled from designation after receiving 62.06 points, which was below the 2019 re-designation standard of 70 points, in June 2019. With this ruling, following Busan Haeundae High School in December last year and eight schools in Seoul this year, a total of 10 schools, including Dongsan High School, have all won lawsuits against education offices.

The Gyeonggi-do Office of Education immediately announced its intention to appeal. The office stated, "This ruling goes against the current trend of 'normalizing high school education and future education' and regrettably deprives Ansan Dongsan High School of the opportunity to develop into a proper school by excusing unfair educational situations and hierarchical entrance exam competition systems."

Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi-do Office of Education, expressed strong regret over the ruling, saying, "We strongly regret the result that undermines the legitimate discretionary scope of the education office. The Gyeonggi-do Office of Education will not be discouraged by this outcome and will realize high school system reform and a new educational paradigm shift through the normalization of high school education."

Conservative teacher organizations and the autonomous private high school alliance issued statements condemning the education office's actions on the same day.

The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) said, "We humbly accept the first trial ruling and urge the administration, government, Ministry of Education, and education offices to apologize and take responsibility immediately. The enforcement decree to abolish autonomous private high schools and others in 2025 should be withdrawn immediately, and the types and operations of high schools should be directly specified by law."

The KFTA added, "The education offices should immediately stop the forced appeals that waste taxpayers' money and only increase harm to students and parents, and take responsibility for the unfair evaluation. The Ministry of Education should clearly state its position to stop the appeals by metropolitan and provincial education offices."

The Autonomous Private High School Community Alliance announced plans to mobilize legal measures, including movements to remove education superintendents and civil and criminal lawsuits. Previously, autonomous private high schools that won the first trial had announced plans to file complaints with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The Autonomous Private High School Community Alliance stated, "Education superintendents canceled autonomous private high school designations in 2019, causing national confusion and significant disruption to academic operations, and inflicted indescribable frustration on school community members. The autonomous private high school community will hold education superintendents accountable to the end by mobilizing all legal means, including movements to remove education superintendents and civil and criminal lawsuits, against anti-educational abuse of authority and illegal acts."