Park Sun-ae "Comprehensive Review of Existing Regulations on University Management, Finance, and Evaluation"

Inauguration Amid Controversies Including Drunk Driving

"I Will Strive to Meet Expectations"

President Yoon Suk-yeol presents the appointment letter to Park Soon-ae, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the morning of the 5th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Park Soon-ae, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, addressed the controversies surrounding her prior to taking office on the 5th, including drunk driving, stating, "It was different from the public's expectations," and pledged, "I will work harder." She also said she would promote education policies based on autonomy, creativity, and fairness, and conduct a comprehensive review of existing regulations governing university operations.

At the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong in the afternoon, after taking the oath of office, Deputy Prime Minister Park said, "Since my appointment, I have realized how weighty the position of a public official is," and added, "Although I have lived as an educator all my life, it seems that my perspective was very different from that of the public." She continued, "I am aware that due to this gap in expectations, many people in the education sector still have concerns about whether I am the right person the public wants," and added, "I will listen with a more humble heart and strive to meet the public's expectations."

Deputy Prime Minister Park received her appointment letter from President Yoon Suk-yeol in the morning and shortly thereafter attended a Cabinet meeting as a member of the Cabinet for the first time. In her inaugural speech, she expressed her ambition to implement education policies centered on 'autonomy, creativity, and fairness' as the first Minister of Education under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

She stated, "The most important responsibility and role given to the state in nurturing future talents is to ensure fair and equal educational opportunities so that a 'tilted playing field' does not form," and added, "We will realize a warm future education that eliminates educational disparities and breaks the link between unequal educational opportunities and socioeconomic inequality."

She further promised, "Regardless of economic status, all students will be able to receive the education they desire from early childhood to university. The state will take responsibility by providing education and care, expanding financial aid for tuition, and easing the burden of education costs," and pledged to strengthen customized support for 'educationally disadvantaged' groups such as students with disabilities, multicultural and North Korean defector students, and students who have dropped out.

To lay the foundation for education reform at the kindergarten, elementary, and middle school levels, she announced plans to create a school education system that respects diversity and autonomy. She said, "Students will be given various educational opportunities to receive education according to their talents and aptitudes and to choose their career paths," and added, "Since each school has different characteristics, we will expand autonomy at the field level so that tailored education can be provided according to individual circumstances."

Regarding the 'creativity' aspect of education, she stated, "Basic knowledge will be systematically acquired, and based on this, we will support the development of future core competencies such as creativity, problem-solving skills, and self-directedness. In particular, through public education, we will provide sufficient digital education and SW·AI education so that all students can cultivate the digital literacy necessary for the future era."

Deputy Prime Minister Park emphasized strengthening the autonomy of higher education amid the accelerating crisis caused by the declining school-age population. She said, "We will conduct a comprehensive review of existing systems and regulations from university operations to academic and enrollment management, finances, and evaluations to guarantee flexibility and autonomy," and added, "We will remove the 'sandbags' that have held back the growth and leap of higher education."

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