Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon Opposes Early Admission for 5-Year-Olds... "Affects Normal Growth and Development of Children"

Ministry of Education Issues Statement Refuting 'School System Reform Plan'

Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] “The hastily announced school system reform plan without prior consultation is of no help.”

Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Education of Gyeongnam Province, has opposed the early admission of children aged 5.

On the 4th, Superintendent Park stated in a press release, “We strongly demand that the Ministry of Education immediately scrap the school system reform plan.”

He criticized, “We are spending tense times to restore our children’s education amid the crisis of COVID-19 resurgence. In such a situation, the reform plan hastily announced without prior consultation only causes confusion.”

He continued, “The Ministry of Education did not even consult with the city and provincial education offices responsible for early childhood, elementary, and secondary education,” and pointed out, “Since it was announced without sufficient public discussion and collection of field opinions, it has caused great social repercussions and backlash.”

He also said, “There is a lack of thorough review on the necessary institutional improvements and support measures to prevent confusion and difficulties that may arise from implementing the reform plan, as well as on the process of promotion.”

The government has revealed its intention to advance the school entry age by one year to promote early admission of 5-year-old children and to eliminate educational disparities, which are an early cause of social polarization.

Superintendent Park expressed concern, saying, “Early admission of 5-year-old children may accelerate their participation in private education and continuously affect their normal growth and development.”

He emphasized, “Considering the emotional, physical, and social maturity of a human being, school system reform should be discussed based on sufficient prior research, analysis, and social consensus regarding early admission of 5-year-old children.”

He added, “The school system reform plan without agreement from educational stakeholders must be immediately scrapped,” and “We once again urge the government to proceed with careful and thoughtful policy implementation so that policy changes or new policy enactments can go through a process of public discussion and social consensus.”

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