"School Teachers Less Competent Than Instructors" Academy Leader's Remarks Spark Controversy... Im Taehee Calls Them "Outrageous Comments"

Lee Yuwon, Chairman of the Korea Academy Federation, is speaking at the forum "Neulbom School, Expansion Plan for Elective Education with Local Governments" held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Academy Federation

Im Taehee, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, strongly criticized Lee Yuwon, Chairman of the Korea Academy Federation, for his remarks suggesting that school teachers are less competent than private academy instructors, calling them "outrageous comments."

On August 28, Im stated on his social media account, "These are outrageous comments that cannot be overlooked, as they undermine the professionalism and honor of public school teachers." He continued, "Public and private education can only develop through healthy competition and complementary relationships, so we must respect each other and work together to restore trust in the educational field." He added, "We will closely monitor follow-up measures to ensure that the dedicated teachers in our schools are not hurt by these remarks."

Lee Yuwon, Chairman of the Korea Academy Federation, attended the forum "Neulbom School, Expanding Elective Education with Local Governments" held at the National Assembly on the 22nd, where he stated, "Isn't it true that, when consumers make a choice, school teachers are less competent than academy instructors?" Prior to this remark, he also said, "In the past, being an elementary school teacher was considered the most stable job for women, but recently, competition for admission to teacher colleges has dropped significantly," and added, "Now, teaching is becoming a '3D job' (Difficult, Dirty, Dangerous)."

As Lee's remarks became widely known belatedly, teachers' organizations issued strong condemnations. The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations stated, "Chairman Lee's claim that teachers are less competent than academy instructors stems from a lack of understanding and absence of educational philosophy regarding the value of public education and the role of teachers, and we find it deeply regrettable." The federation demanded an immediate apology, emphasizing, "Such denigration and damage to teachers' pride are serious issues."

The Korean Elementary Teachers' Union also criticized the remarks, stating, "These are outrageous comments that insult the professionalism and honor of all teachers in Korea and fundamentally misunderstand the essence of education." The union urged, "The Ministry of Education and local education offices must not remain silent or ignore the disparaging remarks made by the head of a private education organization," and called for a response from the relevant authorities. The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union also condemned the comments, saying, "These remarks are based on a shallow educational philosophy that views public education as a simple commodity to be chosen by consumers."