Audit Board Sparks Special Recruitment of Dismissed Teachers... Cho Hee-yeon "Operated Legally"

Board of Audit Reports Police on Superintendent Jo for Unfair Special Recruitment Orders and Demands Disciplinary Action for Secretary Office Staff
Jo Hee-yeon: "No Improper Operation of Review Committee... Special Recruitment Is Superintendent's Discretion"

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education for Seoul, is announcing strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures for schools and academies nationwide at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it will request a re-examination, stating that it lawfully proceeded with the special recruitment of five dismissed teachers as secondary education public officials, in response to the Board of Audit and Inspection's announcement that Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon improperly ordered the special recruitment of five dismissed teachers.

On the 23rd, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, "We have never instructed the special recruitment targeting specific dismissed teachers, and there has been no improper operation in the formation and operation of the special recruitment screening committee," adding, "We will immediately request a re-examination regarding the Board of Audit and Inspection's current disposition demand to correct the erroneous facts and prove our innocence."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "The special recruitment system for education public officials is a selection method used when hiring individuals with special qualifications, and the timing, setting of recruitment conditions, and final number of recruits are at the discretion of the Superintendent of Education," further stating, "The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education lawfully proceeded with the special recruitment work within the scope of the Superintendent's authority according to laws and procedures."

The day before, the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed in its 'Local Government Mobile Inspection' report that Superintendent Cho ordered the relevant department to proceed with the special recruitment of five dismissed teachers in July to August 2018. Among the five, one was a person who ran as a preliminary candidate in that year's Superintendent election and later unified with Superintendent Cho. It was also revealed that Mr. A, belonging to the Superintendent's Secretariat, was involved in the formation of the screening committee and the document and interview evaluations.

The Board of Audit and Inspection explained that the responsible director, manager, and deputy superintendent opposed the special recruitment due to concerns about preferential treatment, but Superintendent Cho unilaterally approved and forced the recruitment. Additionally, the Board reported Superintendent Cho to the police and submitted reference materials for investigation to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The Board also urged the Minister of Education to caution Superintendent Cho and to discipline Mr. A.

During the 2019 National Assembly audit, when opposition lawmakers raised issues about the special recruitment, Superintendent Cho stated, "The teachers specially recruited made efforts to resolve private school corruption and educational reform during their time away from the classroom, so they were hired from a perspective of inclusion."

Teacher organizations expressed opposing views. The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations said, "If the investigative authorities conduct a clear investigation and illegalities are confirmed, strong punishment should be imposed," adding, "Although staff emphasized the illegality of laws and procedures, Superintendent Cho stated, 'I will take all responsibility, including political burdens,' so we urge him to show responsible behavior accordingly."

The Seoul branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union expressed, "We strongly regret that even the Board of Audit and Inspection, which should be fair, is joining the exaggeration campaign. The 2018 recruitment involved hiring sufficiently qualified individuals," and added, "If candidates are rejected simply because they are dismissed teachers from Jeon-gyo-jo, that itself should be the subject of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit. The audit results are defamation and smear campaigns against Jeon-gyo-jo, and the Board of Audit and Inspection should stop its political actions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.