Yoo Gi-hong "Next Government to Start Without Transition Committee... Need for Education Think Tank"

Progressive Education Leaders Launch Initiative
to Develop Education Pledges for Early Presidential Election

"The next presidential winner is likely to start their term without a transition committee, so the goal is to select key agendas that the education sector must push through and present them to the political sphere."

On the afternoon of the 23rd, former National Assembly Education Committee Chairman Yoo Ki-hong said this to reporters after the launch ceremony of the 'Emergency National Education Roundtable Meeting' at the Roh Moo-hyun Citizens' Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The "Emergency National Education Roundtable," involving progressive education figures such as former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, and former National Assembly Education Committee Chairman Yoo Ki-hong, was launched on the 23rd.

The Emergency National Education Roundtable Meeting is a gathering formed around former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, and former Chairman Yoo to condemn the current government's education policies and discuss new agendas. It has drawn attention because the participants were responsible for education administration, autonomy, and legislation respectively.

Former Chairman Yoo said, "On the 4th, right after the emergency situation on December 3rd, the three of us agreed to listen to the voices of the education sector," adding, "We will gradually expand participating units such as teacher organizations and student groups." He explained that the education agendas emerging from this meeting will be proposed as education pledges to be addressed by the next government.

Former Chairman Yoo stated, "It is a fact that neither side in the last presidential election focused on education pledges," and added, "The roundtable meeting will contribute to discovering education and social reform agendas in the early presidential election." He emphasized, "Cooperation with the legislature is absolutely necessary."

The roundtable meeting plans to serve broadly as a think tank for progressive education without initially aligning with any specific party or campaign. However, as the presidential election schedule approaches, it may closely cooperate with parties. Former Chairman Yoo and former Minister Yoo Eun-hye are currently serving as advisors to the recently launched Democratic Party Education Special Committee.

The roundtable meeting is scheduled to be held four times in total on the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 25th of next month. After covering early childhood, elementary, and secondary education, higher education, education systems, and finances, it plans to propose policies that could become pledges in the presidential election.