Im Hyeong-seok, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member: "Strong Sanctions on Private Schools That Do Not Fulfill Their Responsibilities"

Low Payment Rate of Legal Charges and Ignoring Education Office Requests
"Call to Strengthen Private School Audit Functions Using Legal Measures"

Jeon Nam-do Assembly member Lim Hyeong-seok is questioning on the 4th during the administrative audit of the provincial council, emphasizing the need for strong sanctions against private schools that have not fulfilled their obligations.
[Photo by Assembly member Lim Hyeong-seok]

Amid persistently low payment rates of legally mandated contributions by private schools, there have been calls for the Jeonnam Office of Education to impose strong sanctions on private schools that fail to fulfill their responsibilities.

On the 4th, at the Jeonnam Office of Education’s main conference room during the administrative audit, Assemblyman Lim Hyeong-seok (Democratic Party, Gwangyang 1) stated, "Last year, 280 billion KRW was provided to private schools as financial deficit support funds, and as of August this year, 144 billion KRW has been provided. Is it right to continue supporting private schools that neither pay their legally mandated contributions nor respond to the education office’s requests?" He demanded fundamental measures to be established.

Assemblyman Lim asked Auditor Kim Jae-gi of the provincial education office, "What was the outcome of the 2023 report regarding Yeosu Technical High School?" Auditor Kim replied, "We requested dismissal of the employee involved for embezzlement and violation of service regulations at Yeosu Technical High School, but a suspension was imposed, and to my knowledge, the employee is currently still working."

Then, Assemblyman Lim questioned Policy Director Moon Tae-hong, saying, "General administrative and operating expenses of private schools, excluding personnel costs, should be differentiated by payment brackets depending on whether legally mandated contributions are paid. The issue of non-payment of legally mandated contributions by private schools is pointed out every year, but there has been no improvement at all," criticizing the situation.

Assemblyman Lim pointed out, "Looking at the payment status of legally mandated contributions by private schools, over 90% of schools pay only about 10%, yet the Jeonnam Office of Education provided more than 280 billion KRW in support last year," adding, "The fundamental reason private schools do not convert to public schools is for the benefit of the private school foundations, not the students."

He further added, "I ask the Jeonnam Office of Education to exercise its legally available discretionary powers to the fullest extent and prepare measures to sanction private schools that do not fulfill their roles, and report back."