[2024 National Audit] Lee Chang-yong "Disagree with Universities' Criticism of 'Regional Proportional Selection System'"

Lee Chang-yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, expressed disagreement with the negative stance taken by universities such as Seoul National University and Yonsei University regarding the regional proportional selection system proposed by the Bank of Korea.

Lee Chang-yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, is attending the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee's audit of the Bank of Korea held at the Bank of Korea in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 14th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

At the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee audit on the 14th, Governor Lee responded to Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the Innovation Party's remark that "Seoul National University said it is practically difficult, Korea University said it is premature, and Yonsei University said it should be approached in the long term" regarding the regional proportional selection system proposed by the Bank of Korea, stating, "I cannot agree."

Governor Lee said, "The Bank of Korea's argument is to normalize the abnormal," and criticized, "No country in the world selects many people only from one region."

He continued, "Regardless of real estate, if Korean universities adopt the idea of selecting students from various regions instead of just one region, this system can change," and added, "I believe it can be done if we just change the perception of why we must select strictly by academic ranking, so I cannot agree at all."

He pointed out, "Especially looking at Seoul National University's response that allocation is difficult in all recruitment units depending on preferences, currently, 32% of students entering Seoul National University are from the Seoul area, while the proportion of high school students there is 16%," and said, "If Seoul National University decides to select 80% of students from provinces, it can be done while maintaining the recruitment pool."

He added, "How can high school students choose their major?" and said, "Since professors did this to secure students, I think recruitment units should also be opened."