Teachers' Groups Call for Stricter Oversight of Instructor Qualifications
The far-right group 'Reebak School,' which is under suspicion of manipulating online comments, has reportedly provided programs and instructor qualifications for the elementary-level Neulbom School initiative, prompting the Ministry of Education to launch a comprehensive investigation. Teachers' organizations have pointed out the need to address structural flaws in the Neulbom School system.
According to the Ministry of Education on June 2, authorities plan to inspect all institutions participating in the Neulbom School program support project in connection with the allegations against Reebak School. They will also conduct a thorough review of any links between Reebak School and Neulbom programs, and will take appropriate action if any issues are identified. A ministry official stated, "We are currently formulating a detailed plan for the comprehensive inspection, which will be implemented soon."
On May 31, Newstapa reported that Reebak School lured individuals by offering private certifications required to work as Neulbom instructors, and that the group engaged in organized comment manipulation in a group chatroom for instructor training, targeting a specific presidential candidate. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that Neulbom programs provided by Reebak School were supplied to 10 schools in Seoul through a memorandum of understanding with Seoul National University of Education. The head of Reebak School, under the name 'Korea Neulbom Education Association,' proposed program cooperation to Seoul National University of Education, which then signed the agreement after reviewing the program.
Regarding the 10 programs already supplied to elementary schools, Seoul National University of Education is immediately considering suspending program operations and canceling the memorandum of understanding. The Ministry of Education also explained that the 'Creative Experience Activity Instructor' qualification provided by Reebak School is a private certification registered with the ministry but operated independently by the issuing organization, and that holding a specific certification is not a requirement for being hired as a Neulbom instructor. The ministry plans to review whether there have been any violations of relevant laws through guidance and inspections of these private certifications.
Teachers' organizations have expressed widespread concern about the possibility that individuals associated with Reebak School may have been active in Neulbom School settings. The Teachers' Union stated, "It is deeply shocking that those who led illegal comment manipulation activities may also have carried out biased history education in elementary schools through the Neulbom Classroom."
They also pointed out that the structure of Neulbom School, which involves hiring many external instructors but lacks proper oversight, is problematic. The Seoul Teachers' Union stated, "Currently, the qualification criteria for Neulbom instructors include anyone 'recognized as having the necessary qualities,' without objective standards or verification procedures, creating a structural risk that similar political organizations could exploit instructor positions at any time." They demanded, "Supervision and oversight of Neulbom instructors must be significantly strengthened."
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