Former Deputy Minister of Education Kim Younggon: "Words Are Not Enough for Ungdong Academy’s Social Return"

Broken Promises and Twelve Years of Neglect
Solo Protest Calls for Responsible Administration

Former Deputy Minister of Education Kim Younggon held a solo protest in front of the Gyeongnam Office of Education, urging the implementation of Ungdong Academy’s promised social return and strongly criticizing the office’s prolonged administrative inaction.

Former Deputy Minister of Education Younggon Kim holds a solo protest urging the social return implementation of Ungdong Academy.

On January 2, Kim stated, “The Ungdong Academy situation is no longer a controversy of the past; it is an ongoing issue that continues to undermine the public nature and trust of Gyeongnam’s education even at this very moment,” adding, “We can no longer tolerate the administration’s repeated responses of ‘we will try’ without concrete action.”

Ungdong Academy, despite former president Cho Kuk’s public pledge in 2019 to return the school to the public sector or otherwise fulfill its social obligations, has made almost no substantive progress in the six years since. Out of total debts of approximately 9.1 billion won, it is reported that only about 100 million won has actually been repaid.

Kim pointed out, “The Private School Act provides clear legal grounds for corrective orders and even dissolution if the institution’s objectives cannot be achieved,” and stressed, “The issue is not a lack of authority, but the education office’s avoidance of responsibility by failing to exercise that authority.”

He particularly emphasized, “The twelve years of Superintendent Park Jonghoon’s tenure, and the six years since the social return promise, have essentially been years of neglect regarding the Ungdong Academy issue,” adding, “A superintendent’s term is not simply a passage of time but a period of responsibility, and administration without decisive action is no different from negligence.”

Kim made it clear that this solo protest was not a political act targeting any individual or faction, but rather the minimum public action to hold the education administration accountable.

He went on to say, “If I am given the responsibility to lead Gyeongnam’s education, I will officially and comprehensively review whether Ungdong Academy’s social return is being implemented, rigorously assess the effectiveness of its debt repayment plan, and, if necessary, responsibly consider all administrative measures permitted by law.”

He added, “This is a time for action, not cautious words,” and pledged, “To restore the public nature and honor of Gyeongnam’s education, I will continue to raise this issue before the residents through responsible messaging.”

In conclusion, Kim stated, “Saying ‘we will try’ can no longer convince the residents,” and made it clear, “What Gyeongnam’s education needs now is clear judgment and execution, and that is the minimum responsibility that the education administration owes to the children and the people.”