Seoul Education Superintendent Candidates Kang Shin-man and Jo Hee-yeon Unite... Conservative Camp Divided

Unification of Cho Hee-yeon and Kang Shin-man 6 Days Before Election
Kang Shin-man to Resign and Serve as Standing Election Committee Chair
Cho Hee-yeon and Kang Shin-man Announce 10 Joint Major Pledges
Conservative Camp Unification Unlikely...Mutual Calls for Withdrawal

Cho Hee-yeon, candidate for Seoul Superintendent of Education, is seated at the Seoul Superintendent of Education election candidates' debate held at KBS in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Five days before the Seoul Superintendent of Education election, progressive candidates have unified, but conservative candidates are still failing to find common ground.

On the 26th, candidate Cho Hee-yeon (former Seoul Superintendent of Education) and candidate Kang Shin-man held a press conference at the Christian Social Issues Research Institute in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, agreeing to unify under candidate Cho and to promote 10 joint pledges. Candidate Kang agreed to serve as the permanent co-chairman of Cho Hee-yeon's election campaign headquarters.

The 10 joint pledges proposed by the two candidates are ▲expansion of the principal recruitment system ▲eradication of school violence ▲Seoul-style basic academic skills guarantee system ▲safe after-school care for elementary students until 8 p.m. ▲expansion of the 'Odyssey School' for the first-year high school transition process and establishment of Seoul-style public alternative schools ▲establishment of special schools in all autonomous districts ▲construction and expansion of various types of public kindergartens ▲school administration reform to separate teacher and administrative duties ▲realization of high-quality school meals ▲establishment of a systematic career design support system.

To implement the joint pledges, the two candidates agreed to form the Seoul Education Reform Committee and establish a School Reform Promotion Team. They plan to create a superintendent-direct committee composed of various experts for educational administrative reform and cooperation, and to set up the School Reform Promotion Team to carry out five major tasks: support for basic academic skills, resolution of elementary after-school care, measures against school violence, expansion of school autonomy, and innovation of educational administration.

Candidate Kang Shin-man expressed his intention to run again in four years and cited attacks on the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union as the background for unification. Kang said, "Seeing moderate and conservative candidates demonize and insult a specific organization during the election, I thought the best way was to prevent someone with far-right tendencies from becoming superintendent of education."

Candidate Cho Hee-yeon said, "Kang's decision to step forward points out shortcomings in my policies and administration over the past eight years," adding, "I will actively accept what Kang wanted to represent and create a new path."

Cho Hee-yeon (from left), Jo Jeon-hyeok, Park Seon-young, and Jo Young-dal, candidates for Seoul Superintendent of Education, are taking a commemorative photo on the 23rd before the debate for the Seoul Superintendent of Education election held at KBS in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

The conservative camp still has not reached unification discussions, with each candidate claiming to be the best suited for unification. On the same day, candidate Park Sun-young filed a complaint with the prosecution against candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok for violating the Public Official Election Act.

At a press conference, candidate Park said, "I ranked first among moderate-conservative candidates in various multi-candidate polls and have the highest competitiveness for the general election, making me the most suitable candidate." She added, "There is information suggesting that candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok advertised on a blog using a specific party as a keyword, and I received a recording in which the candidate requested paid advertising on the blog for 100,000 won per day using that party as a keyword."

Candidate Jo Young-dal said at a press conference with Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education reporters, "The possibility of unification is open," but added, "Leave Seoul education to me, and it would be more appropriate and reasonable for candidates Park Sun-young and Jo Jeon-hyeok to run for the National Assembly in 2024."

Earlier, a recording was released in which candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok referred to candidate Park Sun-young as a "crazy person," sparking controversy.

At a press conference with Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education reporters on the 24th, candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok said, "I apologize for not maintaining dignity in a negotiation between two people where the other party was not the counterpart but a third party." He added, "From now on, I believe there is no other way than unification through decision and negotiation."

Meanwhile, the support group for candidate Jo Jeon-hyeok, 'Jo Jeon-hyeok for Seoul Superintendent of Education Moderate-Conservative Candidate National Unification Coalition,' called for the withdrawal of candidates Jo Young-dal and Park Sun-young. The group stated, "Candidates Park Sun-young and Jo Young-dal lack the qualifications as moderate-conservative candidates and competitiveness against candidate Cho Hee-yeon, so they should withdraw."