Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik Presides Over Senior Aides Meeting
Orders Thorough Review for Any Additional Violations
On January 19, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik strongly criticized the recent controversy over the trading of exam questions in the education sector, calling it "a serious issue that goes beyond a simple personal misconduct and undermines the entire education system and social order."
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong conveyed in a written briefing that Chief Kang made these remarks during a meeting with senior aides on the same day.
According to Deputy Spokesperson Ahn, Chief Kang stated, "The foundation of a fair Republic of Korea lies in managing the admissions system without any foul play," and pointed out, "Recently, a series of cases have emerged across the education field involving illegal trading and leaking of exam questions, fundamentally damaging the fairness of the admissions system and gravely eroding public trust."
Chief Kang further emphasized the need for "genuine reflection and an apology from the education authorities regarding the sense of disappointment and helplessness students must have felt." He directed the Ministry of Education and all regional education offices to "thoroughly examine whether there are any additional violations in the management of the admissions system and school records, including the issues that have already surfaced, and to report on any areas where institutional improvements are needed."
Recently, well-known math instructor Hyun Woojin (38) and English instructor Cho Jeongsik (43) have been accused of trading exam questions or receiving them in advance and providing money or valuables to incumbent teachers in return. Prosecutors have reportedly charged Cho with breach of trust in the course of his work, alleging that he obtained financial gains by receiving unpublished EBS textbooks in advance.
Deputy Spokesperson Ahn also reported that Chief Kang addressed the growing problem of counterfeit Korean products alongside the spread of K-culture.
Chief Kang expressed concern, saying, "As the global popularity of Korean consumer goods such as K-beauty and K-food increases, the distribution of counterfeit products that cleverly imitate Korean brands is spreading overseas. This not only harms our companies but also threatens the health and safety of foreign consumers and can undermine trust in Korean products as a whole."
Additionally, Chief Kang urged, "Relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office, should work together to conduct a comprehensive review of the current system's operation and, if necessary, promptly prepare and report on measures such as legal amendments and budget support."
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