"Withdraw the Appeal" Autonomous Private High School Even Pulls Out the Anti-Corruption and Audit Service Card

All 8 Autonomous Private High Schools Win First Trial... Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to Appeal
"If Appeal Withdrawal Refused, Will File Complaint with Anti-Corruption Commission, Request Audit from Board of Audit and Inspection, and Launch Resignation Movement"
Policy to Abolish Autonomous Private High Schools Narrows Their Position, Making New Student Recruitment and Financial Securing Difficult

On the 28th, immediately after Kyunghee High School and Handae High School won the lawsuit to cancel the designation cancellation of autonomous private high schools, the principals of autonomous private high schools held a press conference in front of the Seoul Administrative Court.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The first trials of all eight autonomous private high schools (Jasago) in Seoul, which opposed the cancellation of their designation, have ended in victory. The Jasago schools are demanding that Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon withdraw the appeals, warning that if he refuses, they will file a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and even launch a campaign for the superintendent's resignation.

On the 28th, the principals of the eight Jasago schools demanded that Superintendent Cho immediately withdraw the appeals against the administrative court rulings. On the same day, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of Kyunghee High School and Handae High School in lawsuits seeking to cancel the cancellation of their Jasago designation. Previously, in February, Baejae High School and Sehwa High School won, in March, Sungmoon High School and Shinil High School won, and on the 14th, Joongang High School and Ewha Girls' High School won, marking the fourth victory. At a press conference immediately after the ruling, the principals stated, "Superintendent Cho should apologize for the cancellation decision and withdraw the appeal," adding, "If he does not comply, we will request an audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection, file a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for damages suffered by Jasago, and students, parents, teachers, and alumni will unite to launch a resignation campaign."

Despite the principals' requests to withdraw the appeals since March, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has maintained its stance to continue legal action. Immediately after the ruling, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a statement saying, "We will carefully analyze the reasons for the ruling as soon as the court's judgment is delivered and will appeal," adding, "Considering the burden on schools due to the appeal and the efficiency of the lawsuit, we plan to request the court to consolidate the cases."

Kim Jae-yoon, principal of Sehwa High School, said, "Currently, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is appealing for four schools and has expressed intentions to appeal for the remaining schools as well," adding, "Schools are incurring additional time and costs that should be devoted to education, and since this is contrary to the fundamental educational duties of supporting frontline schools, we politely request the withdrawal of the appeals."

Ko Jin-young, principal of Baejae High School, explained, "Due to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's policy to phase out Jasago, we have suffered significant damage, and we will review what is realistically possible, including legal reviews and administrative procedures," adding, "The ruling for Ansan Dongsan High School is still pending, and since this is not only a Seoul issue, we plan to proceed after nationwide consultations."

Members of the Seoul Autonomous Private High School Parents' Association are holding a relay rally in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in July 2019, urging the cancellation of the revocation of re-designation. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

The Jasago schools complained that the lawsuit process consumes time and costs, and that the policy to abolish Jasago makes student recruitment very difficult. The principals stated, "Prestigious private schools in the local community have suddenly been stigmatized as schools whose Jasago designation was canceled, leading to a decrease in new student applications and worsening financial conditions, making school operations difficult, and it has become impossible to operate normally without financial support from the school foundation."

There are concerns that once the revised Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which removes the legal basis for Jasago, takes effect in March 2025, recruiting new students will become even more difficult starting in 2023. Ko Jin-young, principal of Baejae High School, said, "This has been anticipated for a long time, and although a constitutional complaint is underway, it is uncertain how the policy will be implemented," adding, "Since it is unclear how the policy will be enforced and difficulties in recruiting new students are expected, post-consultation with the education office is necessary."

As maintaining Jasago status becomes difficult, cases of voluntary conversion to general high schools are increasing. On the 27th, Dongsung High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, held a board meeting and decided to convert to a general high school. The school stated, "The uniqueness and advantages enjoyed as a Jasago have disappeared, and the high school credit system and declining school-age population are progressing in a direction unfavorable to maintaining Jasago," adding, "Parents who choose Jasago expect the school to prioritize good college entrance results, but the education pursued by our school has limitations in that regard."

Including Dongsung High School, seven schools in Seoul have relinquished their Jasago status: Dongyang High School, Yongmun High School, Mirim Girls' High School, Wooshin High School, Daesung High School, and Kyungmoon High School. This year, the competition rate for new student recruitment at Seoul Jasago schools was 1.09 to 1, down from 1.19 to 1 the previous year.

Ko Jin-young, principal of Baejae High School, said, "It is true that all Jasago schools are facing such difficulties as the Ministry of Education and the education office unilaterally proceed with policies to kill Jasago," adding, "The education office should establish measures to allow Jasago to operate academic affairs normally, and from that perspective, withdrawing the appeals is a very important matter."

Eight Jasago schools, including eight in Seoul and Haeundae High School in Busan, won their first trial lawsuits. The first trial ruling for the cancellation of the Jasago approval for Ansan Dongsan High School is scheduled for June 17.

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