'Kyung Hee University Branch Controversy' Gominjeong, 4 Years Ago Said "Local University Graduate Challenges Announcer"

Criticism Over 'Kyunghee University Branch' Remark... Previously Mentioned 'Regional University Graduate'
"Did He Not Realize His Political Storytelling Could Lower Alma Mater's Perception?"

Ko Min-jung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Ko Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who sparked controversy by referring to her alma mater Kyung Hee University Suwon Campus (now the International Campus) as a branch campus, is being reexamined for having previously used expressions implying that she was able to pass the KBS announcer exam despite being a graduate of a regional university.

Earlier, on the 13th, Ko announced the proposal of the "blind recruitment law" on her Facebook, stating, "Although I graduated from Kyung Hee University Suwon Campus, which was a branch campus, thanks to this system (blind recruitment), I was able to reach this position. I ask my fellow lawmakers to jointly propose this so that the second and third Ko Min-jungs can be born."

In response, Kyung Hee University alumni criticized her for "demeaning the International Campus by calling it a branch campus." The 53rd Student Council 'On:ON' of Kyung Hee University International Campus also released a statement on the 15th, questioning, "Did she not consider that her statement, made for dramatic promotion of her political storytelling, could degrade the perception of Kyung Hee University International Campus?"

The term 'regional university' generally refers to universities located outside the Seoul area, so it is pointed out as awkward that Ko, a Kyung Hee graduate, defined herself as a 'regional university graduate.' Ko entered the Department of Chinese Language at Kyung Hee University Suwon Campus in 1998 (then called the Department of Chinese Language and Literature) and became a KBS announcer through the 30th public recruitment in 2004. The Kyung Hee University International Campus she graduated from is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and is a dual campus with only a different location from the Seoul Campus.

Some critics argue that she used this expression to highlight her achievements as a public broadcaster announcer who is now serving as a member of the National Assembly.

Ko’s remark about being a 'regional university graduate' also appears in her past writings. In May 2017, in the book she co-authored with her husband, poet Jo Ki-young, titled The Wind Called You Blew to Me, she wrote, "Even if I write down each step, I don’t think I just lived passively," and "When I said I would become an announcer as a regional university graduate (omission), it was the result of overcoming fear and making difficult choices. It was a challenge that risked my entire life."

In a February 2017 interview with OhmyNews, Ko also said, "It is not an exaggeration to say that I am a graduate of a regional university." She explained, "I am a Kyung Hee graduate, but I attended the International Campus in Suwon," and added, "People like me need to keep coming out, but they haven’t." This was a statement emphasizing the importance of blind recruitment, citing her own case of joining KBS through the 'blind screening' process.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Ko posted again on her Facebook, clarifying, "I cannot agree with the disparagement of my alma mater," and explained, "At that time, not only I but quite a few seniors and juniors found it difficult to get into so-called desired companies. It was a reality that we struggled with employment."

It is reported that she sent a 1,600-character text message reply to some protesting Kyung Hee University students. She said, "Please refrain from thinking that there was an intention to undermine the prestige of my alma mater," and revealed that she had been investigated by the prosecution for violating the Public Official Election Act for not disclosing her graduation from the Suwon Campus on her past Facebook posts. She explained that during the prosecution investigation, she submitted her past book mentioning that she was a regional university graduate as evidence and was cleared of the charges.

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