Education Office to Reconsider 'Lenient Disciplinary Actions for Private Schools'

Gwangju Office of Education Establishes 'Private School Disciplinary Committee'

All 9 Members Appointed as External Experts... 3-Year Term Extendable Once

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education has newly established a body to reconsider lenient disciplinary actions against private schools for transparent and sound education.

The Gwangju Office of Education announced on the 7th that it has newly established the "Gwangju Office of Education Disciplinary Review Committee" to reconsider disciplinary actions for private schools and has awarded appointment letters.

The Disciplinary Review Committee was promoted on the 25th of last month to reflect the amendments to the Private School Act and to enhance the public nature and transparency of private schools.

When misconduct occurs among private school staff, the Office of Education will directly decide and impose the final disciplinary action.

Unlike public school staff, whose disciplinary actions are decided and applied directly by the Office of Education, private school staff disciplinary actions have been ultimately decided by the school corporation, the appointing authority, through its own disciplinary committee.

In particular, even when the Office of Education requests reconsideration from the relevant corporation, the private school disciplinary committee reconsiders the case, raising ongoing concerns that disciplinary actions may remain lenient.

To resolve this, the newly established committee will directly conduct a re-review and decide the final disciplinary action when the disciplinary review and resolution by the relevant corporation are deemed too lenient in light of the disciplinary reasons upon misconduct by private school staff.

Additionally, if the appointing authority of a private school does not comply with the disciplinary or dismissal requests or re-review resolutions of the jurisdictional Office of Education regarding private school staff, a fine of up to 10 million won will be imposed, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the jurisdictional disciplinary review committee.

The committee consists of a total of nine members. They include ▲ persons with at least five years of experience as judges, prosecutors, or lawyers ▲ professors teaching law at universities ▲ retired public officials with over 20 years of service ▲ and individuals recognized for their extensive expertise and experience in education or educational administration.

The members serve a term of three years and may be reappointed only once.

Superintendent Jang Hwikuk stated, “This disciplinary review committee excludes internal members and appoints all nine members from outside to ensure more objective and fair disciplinary reconsiderations. Our Office of Education will strictly supervise private school staff to help private schools develop into transparent and sound educational foundations.”

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