Yoo Eun-hye: "Public Trust in University Admissions Fairness Is Low... Ministry of Education Audits Have Limitations"

Longest-Serving Minister of Education in History... 1316 Days in Office
Emphasizes the Need to Improve the Fairness Investigation System for College Admissions

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye bid farewell to staff on the 9th, stating, "Many people still feel that university admissions are unfair, and I feel sorry and apologetic to the students."

At the farewell ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 9th, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Allegations of special favors for children of some influential figures and suspicions of admissions fraud continue, and public trust in the fairness of admissions remains low. For these recurring suspicions of admissions fraud to be resolved, investigations or inquiries must be conducted swiftly, but the Ministry of Education’s audits, which lack investigative authority, have always had limitations in the final outcomes."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo emphasized, "To drastically improve the fairness of university admissions, I believe efforts to thoroughly root out unfairness in admissions and research through direct investigations or inquiries by a separate official body, once certain conditions are met, are necessary until the end."

She cited the Moon Jae-in administration’s educational policy achievements, including alleviating educational expenses such as free high school education and the abolition of university entrance fees, the introduction of accounting systems for private kindergartens, and audits of large private universities as part of private school innovation.

She also did not forget to urge the need for continuity in policies for the new government’s national agenda. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Looking at the next government’s 110 national tasks, including the promotion of improvements to the high school credit system and the preparation of university admission system reforms suited to future societal demands, I ask all staff to carefully carry out the detailed aspects of the high school credit system and university admission reforms."

She added, "It is necessary to maintain policy consistency regarding the Green Smart Future Schools, the 2022 revised curriculum, and the reform plan for the teacher training system to nurture prospective teachers. The Regional Innovation Platform project and the Innovation Shared University project will be important mechanisms for transforming universities into the form demanded by our society."

Lastly, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo mentioned the importance of COVID-19 school quarantine, saying, "COVID-19 is not over yet. Although schools began full-scale daily recovery from May, government ministries must remain vigilant at all times and prepare for all situations," and urged, "Please ensure that the 'Comprehensive Education Recovery Plan' is implemented smoothly and according to plan."

She also said, "The increase in private education expenses and the basic academic skill deficits, which have worsened due to COVID-19, require the Ministry of Education to find concrete solutions while stabilizing the 'Comprehensive Education Recovery Plan' and to provide meticulous support."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo, who took office on October 2, 2018, concluded her tenure as the longest-serving Minister of Education in history, completing 1,316 days in office.