Civic Group Welcomes Postponement of Ordinance Bill on Admission of Korean Nationals to Foreign Schools

The Gwangju City Council has postponed the review of the 'Ordinance Bill on Admission Qualifications for Korean Nationals at Gwangju Foreign School.'

Screenshot of Gwangju Foreign School website.

On September 1, the Education and Culture Committee of the Gwangju City Council decided not to address the ordinance bill during the first meeting of its 336th extraordinary session. The ordinance bill proposed abolishing the 'three years of overseas residence' requirement for Korean nationals seeking admission to foreign schools and increasing the admission quota for Korean nationals from the current 30% to 50%.

The Citizens' Coalition for an Education Without Barriers issued a statement on the same day, saying, "There was a significant risk that foreign schools would deviate from their original purpose and become elite institutions catering only to those who can afford high tuition fees." The group welcomed the Education and Culture Committee's decision to postpone the review, calling it "a courageous and responsible decision that reflects the concerns of civil society."

The organization added, "The future of education in Gwangju will develop healthily based on reflection and responsibility," and expressed hope that "the council will establish robust policies grounded in the public nature of education."