Civic Group Raises Concerns Over Publicness, Cites Insufficient On-Site Inspections
Gwangju Office of Education: "No Evidence of Bias... Plans to Strengthen Verification"
As the debate over the public nature of the Neulbom Classroom program continues to intensify, an educational civic group in Gwangju has called for a comprehensive investigation into the operation of after-school care programs. Amid concerns that some entrusted institutions are being run in the same spaces as for-profit businesses or religious facilities, the Gwangju Office of Education clarified that "there are no cases linked to Libaxchool" and announced plans to strengthen on-site inspections and instructor verification.
Conservative-leaning group 'Libaxchool' under suspicion of manipulating comments. Photo by Yonhap News
The civic group Citizens' Coalition for a Society Without Academic Elitism stated on June 10, "Since last year, the Gwangju Office of Education has been operating not only the in-school Neulbom Classroom but also the community-based after-school care program 'Onmaeul Dabotter'." The group added, "Concerns over publicness and neutrality are growing after it was revealed that the conservative-leaning private organization Libaxchool has been training Neulbom School instructors and dispatching them to schools."
The civic group previously monitored 33 after-school Neulbom Classroom institutions entrusted by the Gwangju Office of Education and pointed out that some institutions were operating at the same addresses as existing for-profit businesses, utilizing religious facilities, or only opening their spaces on specific days and times.
The group emphasized, "During the 2025 selection of entrusted institutions, the Office of Education did not even conduct on-site visits, nor did it verify whether there were independent care spaces or whether there was overlapping operation with commercial facilities. This could undermine the public nature of care services and create blind spots."
In response, the Gwangju Office of Education stated, "A comprehensive investigation has confirmed that there have been no cases of institutions or organizations directly linked to Libaxchool operating programs."
The Office explained that immediately after the first media reports regarding Libaxchool, on June 2, it sent an official notice to elementary schools in the district, outlining measures such as training to prohibit politically biased education, strengthening monitoring, and operating a reporting system.
Furthermore, in accordance with the Ministry of Education's plan for a comprehensive investigation, the Office conducted a survey of all elementary schools in the district and found no cases of direct contracts with Libaxchool or related organizations dispatching instructors. However, it was found that out of 2,510 individual instructors in elementary school Neulbom Schools, one instructor held a private certificate related to Libaxchool.
The Office stated that it reviewed the operational plan of the instructor in question and, through an on-site inspection at the school the previous day, confirmed that the program was not related to Libaxchool. No complaints regarding politically biased education have been received.
The Office of Education plans to conduct a second joint investigation with the Ministry of Education to further verify whether there is any politically biased education involving the instructor at the relevant school and among parents. If any illegal activities are found, measures such as requesting a police investigation and terminating contracts will be taken.
Baek Kisang, Director of Education, stated, "The neutrality of education is a very important principle for fostering students' independent thinking and democratic citizenship. We will thoroughly verify instructors to strengthen the public nature of the Neulbom School program."
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