Hongbok Academy Fails to Recruit Financial Contributors... Growing Calls for Conversion to Public Institution

Concerns Grow Over Prolonged Delay in Normalizing Daekwang and Seojin Girls' High School Foundation
Gwangju Teachers' Union: "Converting to Public Schools Is the Most Realistic Solution"

Concerns are mounting that the normalization of Hongbok Academy, which operates Daekwang Girls' High School and Seojin Girls' High School in Gwangju, will be delayed for an extended period, as the foundation has failed twice in a row to recruit financial contributors. In response, the Gwangju Teachers' Union on September 29 called for the active involvement of the education office and local government, suggesting that converting the schools to public institutions is the most realistic alternative.

Exterior view of Seojin Girls' High School in Gwangju.

According to the Hongbok Academy Normalization Promotion Committee and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, there were no applicants for the second round of recruitment held from September 23 to 26, following the first round that closed on September 19. During the recruitment process, it was confirmed that some of the school’s land is owned by the founder, raising concerns among potential applicants about possible future lawsuits, which reportedly discouraged participation.

The teachers' union stated, "With no financial contributors coming forward, converting Hongbok Academy to a public institution is the most realistic solution," adding, "There are precedents where private schools such as Geumok Girls' High School in Seoul, Myungshin High School in Jinju, and Seonin Academy in Incheon were donated to the state and became public schools."

The union further suggested, "It is possible to transition to public status even under a temporary or government-appointed board. To address the issue of overcrowded classes in the Suwan district, Gwangsan District could participate as a financial contributor, acquire Hongbok Academy, and convert it into a public school."

Hongbok Academy has been under a temporary board since 2015 after the founder was found to have embezzled school funds, arbitrarily disposed of corporate assets, and committed accounting irregularities. The normalization process has been delayed because the founder has not resolved the foundation’s debts.