Chairperson Kang Eunhee of the Korean Council of Superintendents of Education Requests at National Assembly: "Maintain Direct Election of Superintendents Even After Administrative Integration"

The Korean Council of Superintendents of Education (Chairperson: Eunhee Kang, Superintendent of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education) visited the National Assembly on January 14 and requested that the independence and autonomy of educational self-governance be guaranteed during the legislative process for the special administrative integration laws currently being promoted for Daejeon·Chungnam and Gwangju·Jeonnam.

On that day, Chairperson Eunhee Kang and Kim Jicheol, Superintendent of Chungnam Office of Education, met with Han Jeongae, Chair of the Policy Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Shin Jeonghun, Chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee. They conveyed key issues such as the constitutional values of autonomy, expertise, and political neutrality in education; the guarantee of independence in educational self-governance; the maintenance of the direct election system for superintendents; securing the autonomy of educational finances and the independence of audits; and the need to establish transitional provisions for stability during the administrative integration process. They also requested that, when forming a fiscal decentralization task force, the council be allowed to recommend educational finance experts.

Eunhee Kang, Superintendent of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education and Chairperson of the Korean Council of Superintendents of Education

Assemblywoman Han Jeongae (Democratic Party of Korea, Gangseo-gu-byeong, Seoul) stated, "We will pay close attention to ensure that educational self-governance is not undermined, and I will work to ensure that today's proposals are reflected in the special law. Administrative integration is a timely requirement for balanced national development."

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Shin Jeonghun (Democratic Party of Korea, Naju and Hwasun, Jeonnam) said, "An integrated approach between general local governments and educational administration is necessary, and there must be cooperation to foster local talent. We will actively communicate with the central government and the National Assembly's Education Committee."