O In-tae, Standing Chairman of the National Education Sovereignty Conference, has announced his intention to run as a candidate for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education in the nationwide local elections scheduled for June.
On January 19, at a press conference held in the briefing room of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, Chairman O stated, "The Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education is the head of Gyeongnam's education system, overseeing kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools. The role must be filled by someone who fully understands all aspects of early childhood, elementary, and secondary education," thereby declaring his candidacy.
He continued, "The superintendent should be someone with a deep understanding of humanity, equipped with a humanistic perspective and insight to foresee the future, and above all, someone with open-mindedness and integrated leadership as a mediator." He highlighted his experience as a teacher, school administrator, poet and writer, and reading education specialist.
He said, "As a principal, I have contemplated fundamental issues and coordinated various positions among different job groups, which made me realize the need for greater authority. What I need is not power to enjoy, but authority to work."
He added, "To resolve the complicated issues entangled in Gyeongnam's education and to guide it in the right direction, greater authority is necessary. If given the opportunity, I will use the authority granted to me to return the personnel, budget, and power excessively concentrated in the superintendent back to the schools."
O In-tae, Standing Chairman of the National Education Sovereignty Conference, is declaring his candidacy for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education election. Photo by Lee Seryung
Chairman O pointed out, "Educational autonomy and decentralization do not mean transferring the central government's authority to the superintendent, but rather, distributing it to the school sites through the superintendent and guaranteeing the autonomy of school education to revitalize schools. Currently, the education office has become too bloated, while schools are deteriorating."
He went on to say, "The education office should become smaller, and schools should become stronger. When schools thrive, education thrives, and when education thrives, children thrive. I will promote 'Na-Neo-Uri Happy Education,' which is about finding myself, embracing you, and building us together."
He also defined himself as "pan-moderate," encompassing both moderate progressives and moderate conservatives.
Chairman O emphasized, "When the superintendent election becomes a battle of political camps, voters are forced to make a binary choice, and education becomes swayed by political and economic logic. Education must be governed solely by educational logic."
He stated, "Educational sovereignty belongs to the people. Excluding party nominations and prohibiting the involvement of political groups and labor unions are measures to guarantee the autonomy of education."
He said, "From the essential perspective of education, the superintendent must be able to skillfully handle the conservative value of excellence and the progressive value of equality with professionalism and balance. One must not be swayed by biased political logic."
He explained that this is why he did not respond to requests from organizations or groups approaching from a factional perspective, noting his rejection of the KCTU's recommendation to register as a candidate for Gyeongnam Superintendent and his non-participation in the progressive camp's candidate unification process.
Chairman O clarified, "I am not against unifying candidates, but I propose that candidates gather to establish a fair primary system, set the rules by consensus, and conduct the primary through a general public opinion poll. It is not appropriate for a specific group to set the rules, form an electoral college, and select a candidate from within."
He pledged, "The superintendent is neither a representative of any political faction nor of any labor union. I will go beyond the boundaries of political camps and make 2026 a year of great transformation for Gyeongnam's education."
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