Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Selected as Democratic Progressive Candidate... Serious 'Discord'

From the left, preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung, preliminary candidate Kim Dae-jung, preliminary candidate Kim Dong-hwan

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Democratic Progressive Education Practice Association (hereinafter Jeonnam Education Association) is still facing discord over the process of selecting Jang Seok-ung, the preliminary candidate for Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, as the ‘Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent Unified Candidate.’

According to the Jeonnam Education Association on the 9th, on the 4th, the vote for the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate was conducted with a combined individual and organization turnout of 59.9%. The voting results showed 88.7% in favor and 11.3% against, selecting preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung as the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate of the Jeonnam Education Association, which is composed of about 370 organizations in the Jeonnam region.

However, strong criticism continues not only from preliminary candidates Kim Dae-jung and Kim Dong-hwan but also from inside and outside the education sector.

Preliminary candidate Kim Dong-hwan strongly criticized, saying, “The Jeonnam Education Association’s selection of preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung as the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate is a false propaganda that distorts the truth,” and “The unified candidate selection process, which was conducted with Jang Seok-ung pre-designated from the start, was neither democratic in method nor procedure.”

He continued, “The Jeonnam Education Association initially claimed it would become an organization that does not decide on a supported candidate but rather plays a role in checking by making joint agreements with the elected candidate, but suddenly changed its stance,” and “The public recruitment period was hastily conducted for only five days from the 20th to the 25th of last month, and Jang Seok-ung was already pre-designated. What kind of democracy is this?”

Candidate Kim Dong-hwan also expressed strong suspicion about the approximately 370 organizations of the Jeonnam Education Association.

Kim said, “If, as the Jeonnam Education Association claims, about 370 organizations exist, there should have been prior resolutions by at least 300 heads of organizations. However, after meeting with the chairpersons of the largest organizations in the Education Association, it was confirmed that those chairpersons were not only absent from the steering committee meetings but were completely unaware of the progress,” and “This selection of the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate lacked procedure and lost its democratic nature.”

Preliminary candidate Kim Dae-jung also expressed regret on the 4th, saying, “I regret the Education Association’s decision to endorse preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung as the progressive candidate,” and urged, “To avoid tarnishing the name of progressivism and democracy in Honam, which has maintained legitimacy through a long democratization process, preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung should acknowledge that he lacks the qualifications of a progressive candidate and withdraw.”

He added, “Preliminary candidate Jang Seok-ung has implemented educational policies that undermine the progressive values of education,” and “His administration was autocratic, the value of education plummeted, and there was no communication with the education community.”

Regarding this, insiders of the Jeonnam Education Association show contrasting positions.

One insider said, “Candidate Jang Seok-ung made efforts for transparent Jeonnam education during his tenure as Jeonnam Superintendent of Education,” and “He is highly evaluated for blocking bureaucratic abuse and doing his best for school democratization, so it is natural that he was selected as the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate,” expressing support.

On the other hand, another insider pointed out, “The current situation of the Jeonnam Education Association is very different from four years ago. Opinions on endorsing the Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent unified candidate are divided, and internally, cohesion has already been lost and it is shaking,” and “Especially, there is a growing number of members who doubt the approximately 370 organizations that even the members themselves do not know about.”

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