Court Sides with Jungang and Ewha High Schools... Seoul Education Office Loses Third AHS Lawsuit (Comprehensive)

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On the 9th, when the results of the operational performance evaluation (re-designation evaluation) of 13 autonomous private high schools (Autonomous Private High Schools) in Seoul were announced, Ewha Girls' High School in Seodaemun-gu was decided to have its autonomous private high school status revoked. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy, reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has lost its third lawsuit against schools that challenged the decision to revoke their autonomous private high school (AHS) status. The court ruled in favor of Jungang High School and Ewha Womans University High School.

On the 14th, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Division 6 (Chief Judge Lee Jooyoung) ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, Korea Jungang Academy and Ewha Hakdang, in their lawsuit against the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education seeking to nullify the revocation of their AHS designation.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expressed regret over the ruling and stated that it would appeal after analyzing the court’s reasoning once the written judgment is delivered. Cho Heeyeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, “Despite the rough seas, we believe the ship must reach its destination, and we will unwaveringly pursue policies to normalize high school education.”

On the 9th, when the results of the operational performance evaluation (re-designation evaluation) of 13 autonomous private high schools (Jasago) in Seoul were announced, a citizen was taking photos in front of Ewha Girls' High School in Seodaemun-gu, where the Jasago cancellation decision was made. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Of the four lawsuits filed so far, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has lost all three cases for which a first-instance ruling has been issued. Previously, in July 2019, the Office decided to revoke the AHS designation of eight out of thirteen AHSs (Paichai High School, Sehwa High School, Kyunghee High School, Soongmoon High School, Shinin High School, Ewha Womans University High School, Jungang High School, and Handae High School). In Busan, Haeundae High School had already won its lawsuit against a similar revocation. In Seoul, Paichai High School and Sehwa High School won their cases in February, followed by Soongmoon High School and Shinin High School in March. First-instance rulings for Kyunghee High School and Handae High School are scheduled for the 28th.

In previous rulings, the Seoul Administrative Court found that announcing the AHS evaluation criteria at the end of 2018 and applying them to operational assessments for 2015-2019 constituted an abuse of discretion. The 2019 evaluation criteria raised the passing score from 60 to 70 points and expanded the scope of point deductions for audit findings. The AHSs argued that these changes were unforeseeable.

However, separate from these rulings, all AHSs will be converted to general high schools starting in 2025. The Ministry of Education has revised the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to remove provisions for autonomous private and autonomous public high schools, and this revision will take effect in March 2025. The fate of AHSs now depends on the outcome of a constitutional appeal filed by AHSs and international high schools. In May last year, 24 AHSs and international high schools filed a constitutional complaint, and a decision is expected next year.

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