"Don't Belittle Alma Mater"…Gominjeong's 'Kyunghee University Branch' Remark Sparks Outrage

Gominjung "Graduated from Kyunghee University Suwon Campus but reached this position thanks to Blind"

Ko Min-jung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Democratic Party lawmaker Go Minjung announced her intention to propose the 'blind recruitment law,' citing her own experience of graduating from a branch campus, joining KBS as an announcer through a blind test, and later becoming a member of the National Assembly. However, some netizens criticized her, claiming that she disparaged her alma mater and pointed out that it "lowers the morale of both graduates and current students."

Earlier, on the 13th, the 51st anniversary of labor activist Jeon Tae-il's death, Go posted on her Facebook, saying, "Jeon Tae-il sacrificed his life to secure the rightful demand for compliance with the Labor Standards Act" and "the rightful right to be evaluated based on ability rather than university name during hiring is still not protected by law."

She added, "Since the Moon Jae-in administration, public institutions have been implementing (blind tests during recruitment), and their effectiveness has been proven. However, because it is not legislated, there is always anxiety," and "I intend to legislate to ensure this excellent system does not regress."

She continued, "I also have experience joining KBS through a blind test, so I deeply understand the importance of legislation," and "Although I graduated from Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus, which was a branch campus at the time, thanks to this system, I have come this far. I ask my fellow lawmakers to co-sponsor so that the second and third Go Minjungs can be born," she urged.

After the controversy arose, Go revised the sentence by removing the word 'branch campus' and stated, "I graduated from Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus at the time, but thanks to this system, I have come this far."

Photo by Go Min-jung, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, Facebook screenshot.

However, some netizens who saw the post criticized Go for making people perceive Kyung Hee University's International Campus as a branch campus.

One netizen commented on Go's post, saying, "Do not disgrace your alma mater. Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus (now International Campus) is not a branch campus. The Chinese Language Department was relocated to the Suwon Campus after the Chinese Language Education Department at the Seoul Campus was closed," and "Not only the Chinese Language Department but almost all departments moved from the Seoul Campus." Go enrolled in the Chinese Language Department (then called Chinese Language and Literature Department) at Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus in 1998.

They added, "Because of Go Minjung, Kyung Hee University's International Campus has been turned upside down. I don't understand why she distorts facts and disparages the International Campus without knowing the situation of her alma mater, lowering the morale of graduates and current students."

They further criticized, "Speak with proper knowledge. Why disparage your alma mater while legislating? How many times have you hurt graduates and current students and stirred up branch campus controversies? Stop being ungrateful and harming the school that raised you."

On the anonymous workplace community 'Blind,' critical responses included, "I am from Kyung Hee University's International Campus and am really angry. Isn't she disrespecting juniors? Now, the admission results of the International Campus are not much different from those of the Seoul Campus," "I don't know how it was when Go graduated, but now Suwon and Seoul are dual campuses and are legally and administratively the main campuses," and "Isn't she disparaging Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus?"

Meanwhile, Kyung Hee University's Suwon Campus, which was a branch campus during Go's attendance, changed its name to International Campus in 2007. In 2011, it received approval for campus integration from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

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