Joint Investigation by Ministry of Education and Seoul Office of Education
Inspection of Neulbom Programs at 10 Elementary Schools in Seoul
Starting June 4, education authorities will launch a joint fact-finding investigation into the controversy surrounding the supply of Neulbom instructors by Libax School. Libax School, a conservative-leaning educational organization, is known to have supplied Neulbom instructors to some elementary schools in Seoul.
According to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity will visit 10 elementary schools in Seoul from June 4 to June 10 to inspect the operation of Neulbom programs related to Libax School. Previously, Newstapa reported that Libax School issued private certifications allowing participants in presidential election comment manipulation activities to work as Neulbom instructors and deployed them to schools.
The joint investigation will examine the political neutrality of Neulbom education conducted at each elementary school, as well as whether there was any intervention in the dispatch and assignment of instructors. The investigation will also look into whether there have been any complaints related to classes at the schools. In particular, since there are suspicions that Libax School supplied Neulbom instructors to elementary schools outside Seoul as well, the authorities plan to conduct a nationwide survey in cooperation with the 17 provincial and metropolitan offices of education. The nationwide survey is expected to begin within this week.
Previously, on June 2, the Ministry of Education dismissed the head of Libax School from the Education Policy Advisory Committee. According to the Ministry, the head of Libax School was appointed as an advisor to the Minister of Education’s policy in June 2024, with a one-year term scheduled to end on June 12, 2025.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has also launched its own investigation, separate from the Ministry of Education. After it became known that Libax School developed and distributed Neulbom programs and issued private certifications for working as Neulbom instructors, the Office announced it would take “decisive measures.” The Office stated that if any illegalities are found as a result of the investigation, it will take strong actions such as suspending the operation of the program and will promptly prepare alternative programs to prevent any harm to students.
It has been confirmed that Libax School, under the name “Korea Neulbom Education Association,” signed a business agreement with Seoul National University of Education and supplied Neulbom programs to 10 elementary schools in Seoul. The organization also issued the “Creative Experience Activity Instructor” certificate, a private qualification for working as a Neulbom instructor, and individuals who obtained this certificate from the organization were actually hired by schools. Some have raised suspicions that Libax School issued these certificates to participants in comment manipulation activities aimed at slandering a specific presidential candidate.
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