Semiconductor Talent and Tuition Fees... Education Minister Park Soon-ae Faces Many Challenges

Inauguration Amid Controversies Over Drunk Driving and Thesis
Non-Capital Region Universities Protest Semiconductor Department Quotas
Tuition Freeze Easing Challenges Must Also Be Addressed
Strong Opposition from Education Superintendents Over Local Education Finance Grants
Hearings Pending Over Various Allegations

Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae visited the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 5th, and after paying respects, she is writing in the guestbook. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Park Soon-ae, the newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, will take office 40 days after her nomination. Despite various controversies including drunk driving and duplicate publication of papers, she will assume the ministerial position before the confirmation hearing, citing the urgency of education reform.

The ministerial position, which had been vacant for about two months, has been barely filled, but numerous challenges remain. Among the national agenda items are the cultivation of one million digital talents and semiconductor talent development plans emphasized by President Yoon Seok-yeol. The Ministry of Education is considering expanding the quota for semiconductor departments, but there is notable opposition from non-metropolitan universities against the quota increase at metropolitan universities’ semiconductor departments. The Regional University Presidents’ Council plans to visit the Ministry of Education on the 6th to hold a press conference.

A highly contentious issue among stakeholders is the university tuition fees, which have been frozen for 14 years. Universities are demanding deregulation, but the Ministry of Education sensed negative public opinion and reversed its stance within a day. It also needs to clarify how to gradually ease the criteria that have required freezing or lowering tuition fees in connection with Type 2 national scholarships. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance’s announcement in the second half of the year’s economic policy direction to use local education finance grants for higher education funding has also sparked strong opposition from provincial superintendents. If autonomous private high schools (Jasago) maintain their status ahead of the 2025 transition to general high schools, progressive superintendents’ backlash is inevitable.

Due to COVID-19, students’ basic academic skills have declined, and depending on the education superintendent’s stance, the Ministry of Education inevitably holds the key to implementing standardized testing measures. Additionally, there is speculation that Minister Park, an expert in public administration, may push for organizational restructuring of the Ministry of Education. This is because the new government had considered integrating the Ministry of Education with the Ministry of Science and ICT since the transition team period, and debates over abolishing and reforming the Ministry of Education have been ongoing.

Verification remains after the formation of the National Assembly’s standing committee. Minister Park is a non-expert in education policy and has unresolved allegations including a history of drunk driving, duplicate publication of papers, publishing similar papers to those of her students, and involving her spouse in government research projects. Progressive groups such as the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union oppose her appointment and call for her resignation, while the Korea Federation of Teachers’ Associations accepts her inauguration, urging her to "carry out her duties with a heavy sense of responsibility."

For her first official schedule, Minister Park will pay respects at the National Seoul National Cemetery on the 5th and then attend the Cabinet meeting. In the afternoon, she will hold an inauguration ceremony at the Sejong Government Complex. Minister Park said, "As the first Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, I feel a heavy responsibility and mission. I will listen carefully to voices from the field and actively promote education reform by reflecting the opinions of the education community. I will devote all my efforts to providing education that paints a hopeful future for the people."