Kang Min-jung: "'Admission at Age 5,' Minister Park Soon-ae Lacking Expertise, Wanted to Highlight Her Presence"

'Age 5 Entry' School System Reform Sparks Wide Controversy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Min-jung, Floor Leader of the Open Democratic Party, held a press conference on the 13th at the National Assembly Communication Office urging the Ministry of Education to immediately sanction Kookmin University for its decision not to conduct a formal investigation into the allegations of academic misconduct concerning Kim Geon-hee, wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, regarding her doctoral dissertation. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Kang Min-jung, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the Ministry of Education's school system reform plan announced on the 2nd to lower the elementary school entry age from 6 to 5 years old, saying, "Changing the school system involves comprehensive changes including employment, but they just pushed it through without considering the repercussions."

On the same day, Kang appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and said, "Personally, I think (Minister Park Soon-ae) wanted to highlight her presence. Because she is not an expert herself," adding, "I think this is a typical case of causing a certain level of impact and wasting national and social costs."

Kang stated, "Changing the school system means changing the entire educational content and curriculum, and also requires changing the educational environment, involving comprehensive changes," and added, "According to the proposal, the graduation year and age will change. Therefore, it is a matter that requires careful consideration of broad social changes such as labor market and employment issues. But they just pushed it through."

She particularly noted, "(Early admission) is legally possible. However, only 537 children in total have chosen to enter school at age 5, which is less than 0.1%. Because the side effects of younger children with fewer months living in the same classroom with older students are fully considered, early admission at age 5 is gradually disappearing."

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