Seeking Solutions to the “Entrance Exam Hell” in Recruitment... Gains National Momentum in Just One Year

The School-Origin Recruitment Discrimination Prevention Act Gains Momentum
National Rally to Urge Passage of the Bill Set for January 20
Ministers of Labor and Education, and Chairperson Cha Jeongin to Participate

Innovation in corporate recruitment culture has emerged as a national-level issue. Calls for change in the “academic background-oriented hiring culture” have grown louder as education authorities and political circles turn their attention to solving South Korea’s chronic private education problem and the negative consequences of its college entrance system. With the government, National Assembly, and civic groups joining forces, expectations have risen for meaningful institutional changes this year.

According to the National Assembly and the education sector on January 14, Kang Deukgu, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with 300 civic organizations, will hold the “National Rally for the Promotion of the School-Origin Hiring Discrimination Prevention Act” at the National Assembly on January 20. The event will be attended by Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, Choi Kyojin, Minister of Education, and Cha Jeongin, Chairperson of the National Education Commission. From the National Assembly, Speaker Woo Wonshik, Deputy Speaker Lee Hakyoung, Democratic Party lawmakers Baek Seunga and Seo Younggyo, and Kang Kyungsook of the Rebuilding Korea Party are expected to participate in large numbers. Kim Jooyoung, the ruling party secretary of the Standing Committee on Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor, which handles the bill, stated in a phone interview, “I am watching this issue with interest,” and added, “I will attend the event in person to observe it closely.”

The reason why the government and the National Assembly have united in support of improving corporate recruitment culture is that persistent criticism has pointed out that Korea’s education problems originate from a hiring culture centered on academic background.

Song Insu, head of the Education Spring civic group, told The Asia Business Daily, “The reason students rely on private education from elementary through high school is because they believe graduating from a prestigious university is necessary to secure a ‘good job.’” He added, “Companies should not discriminate against applicants based on their alma mater or academic background during recruitment.” Song has worked to break the belief in “academic elitism” in the job market by introducing companies that prohibit hiring discrimination and advocating for related policies. The legislative discussion gained momentum last September when Assemblyman Kang Deukgu sponsored the amendment to the Fair Hiring Procedure Act (School-Origin Hiring Discrimination Prevention Act). The current law prohibits requesting or recording information unrelated to job performance, such as region of origin, marital status, or property, during recruitment. The proposed amendment seeks to expand this scope to include academic background, alma mater, and religion. The bill, which was discussed once in a National Assembly standing committee in November last year, is now aiming for passage at the National Assembly plenary session in February this year.

Cha Jeongin, Chairperson of the National Education Commission, also voiced support. Marking his 100th day in office, Cha stated at a commission operation briefing, “An amendment to the law prohibiting the inclusion of ‘alma mater’ in job applications will be discussed at the National Assembly in February,” and emphasized, “If passed, this bill will accelerate the trend toward eradicating academic elitism.” He explained that fundamentally eliminating academic elitism is necessary to ease the competition for college entrance. Cha also pointed out, “Recruitment at large corporations is shifting from academic background to job competency, but parents still believe academic background has a significant impact.” As evidence, he cited the results of a survey conducted by Song’s civic group.

Song added, “In meetings with education authorities and National Assembly officials, we agreed that long-term education plans are meaningless without addressing entrance exam competition, and that recruitment practices must change to solve education problems.” He expressed hope that the School-Origin Hiring Discrimination Prevention Act would pass the National Assembly plenary session as early as February, or by May or June at the latest.