Jinju Gyodae Deducted Document Scores for Disabled Examinees, Faces 10% Recruitment Suspension Next Year

During the 2018 Early Admission, the Admissions Team Leader Directed Admission Officers to Lower Document Scores
Despite Whistleblowing by Admission Officers, Superiors Did Not Properly Verify Facts
Admissions Team Leader Resigned Two Years Later Due to Another Score Manipulation Case... Criminal Trial Underway

Apology Letter in the Name of the President of Jinju National University of Education

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Jinju National University of Education was notified of a 10% enrollment suspension for next year's admission quota after it was revealed that the university arbitrarily reduced the document evaluation scores of students with disabilities.

On the 19th, the Ministry of Education announced that after investigating allegations of admission manipulation in the 2018 special education candidate screening at Jinju National University of Education, it confirmed the unfair score adjustments and issued a notification to suspend 10% of the enrollment quota and to prepare measures to prevent recurrence.

At that time, the admissions team leader at Jinju National University of Education instructed the admissions officers to lower the document evaluation score of student A, who had a severe visual impairment, in the comprehensive student record screening for special education candidates.

Despite the adjusted document evaluation score, student A received a high score in the interview and was finally admitted as the first alternate in the 2018 screening, but also gained admission to another university in the same year. The Ministry of Education stated that since student A ultimately enrolled in another school, remedial measures for the individual were unnecessary.

The Ministry of Education investigated whether there was an organizational-level directive for discrimination against persons with disabilities during the operation of the screening process but found no evidence and concluded it was an individual deviation by the admissions team leader. The admissions team leader received a minor disciplinary action in 2020 for the same issue and retired but is currently undergoing a criminal trial related to the score manipulation of student A.

However, it was additionally confirmed that when an admissions officer reported the score manipulation to the university, the higher-ups within the university did not take appropriate actions such as verifying the facts.

The Ministry of Education submitted the case to the investigation review committee and the administrative disciplinary committee according to legal procedures to deliberate on the sanctions for the involved parties and Jinju National University of Education, and notified a 10% enrollment suspension for the 2022 academic year. An 'institution notification' measure was also taken to revise related regulations and prepare recurrence prevention measures.

The 10% enrollment suspension is the most severe penalty that can be imposed on a university for violating Article 34, Paragraph 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act. The Ministry of Education explained that this decision reflects the importance of organizational management and supervision to ensure fair operation of admissions.

Regarding the failure to take appropriate actions such as fact-finding despite the admissions officer’s report, Professor Lee, then the Dean of Academic Affairs and a superior at the time, was issued a warning for violating Article 56 (Duty of Diligence) of the State Public Officials Act.

Regarding additional suspected cases of score manipulation confirmed during the investigation, the Ministry of Education requested the police to investigate the admissions team leader for obstruction of official duties by abuse of authority. Since the admissions team leader has retired, no separate personnel measures are possible. The Ministry also plans to request further investigation into improper budget use by the admissions team based on whistleblower reports.

The Ministry of Education will conduct a fact-finding inspection to verify discrimination against persons with disabilities and fair operation of admissions for universities that have operated special education candidate screenings in the past three years among four-year teacher training institutions. Based on the inspection results, direct investigations will be conducted for universities requiring further verification.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "We have taken strict measures according to the law for the illegal and unfair parts revealed in this investigation and will strengthen management and supervision to prevent recurrence. We will continue efforts to legislate social integration admissions and promote special admissions to improve access to higher education for socially vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities."

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