Self-Inspection of Subsidy Projects, No Violations Related to National Security Law
Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Education for Gyeongnam Province, stated that he has "moral responsibility" regarding the execution of subsidies related to the Changwon Spy Group incident.
On the 7th, Superintendent Park responded to a question from Jin Sang-rak, a member of the People Power Party, during the 405th regular session of the provincial council.
Assemblyman Jin asked whether an audit had been conducted on the subsidy execution related to the Changwon Spy Group incident, criticized the poor management and supervision for educating students with distorted national and historical views, and urged responsible measures.
Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Education Office (right), is answering a question from Jin Sang-rak, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly from the People Power Party. [Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]
Superintendent Park said, "Although no formal audit was conducted, the responsible department reviewed related projects over the past five years," adding, "There were procedural issues, but nothing that would cause concern among residents and parents. The violations of the National Security Act and the comfort women experiential learning conducted by the education office through private organizations as part of peace and unification education are not directly related."
When asked whether individuals related to the Changwon Spy Group participated in the Superintendent’s transition committee or task force (TF), he drew a line by saying, "There are some presumptions, but it is not appropriate to specify identities of investigation targets by law enforcement agencies."
He added, "As residents and parents were quite shocked, I bear moral responsibility as the Superintendent."
Regarding a drawing by a participant in the peace and unification education depicting a woman holding the Taegeukgi and the Inggonggi flags, he said, "It is said to be a drawing imagining the time when North and South Korea are unified," and added, "It should not be viewed ideologically but rather accepted as children’s imagination and considered more broadly."
He stated, "Although North and South Korea may be politically and militarily opposed and in a tense relationship, I believe that if civilian exchanges become active, inter-Korean relations will advance and develop," and added, "If there were violations of the National Security Act or teachings harmful to children, responsibility must be taken, but it is difficult for the education office to detect all such matters."
According to the Provincial Office of Education’s School Policy Bureau, three related organizations in the province received subsidies over the past five years for projects such as visits to historical sites of forced labor during the colonial period, youth peace and unification reporter groups, and mobile peace and unification education.
Uri Minjokkkiri Tongil-ui Mun-eul Yeoneun Tongilchon received 31,767,000 KRW, Neulpureun Samcheon for Unity received 36,000,000 KRW, and Gyeongnam Peace Education Center received 104,837,000 KRW in subsidies.
An official from the Provincial Office of Education said, "The project contents were reviewed four times, and no abnormalities were found during internal inspections after the Changwon Spy Group incident."
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