Deputy Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho: "Urgent Need for Education Reform, Ministry of Education Will Achieve Major Transformation"

Emphasizing Commitment to Education Reform in Inaugural Speech on the 7th
"Major Transformation Must Begin with Ministry of Education Enduring Pain"
"Ideological Conflicts in Education Field and Bureaucracy in Education Authorities Are Obstacles"
Key Tasks: Cultivating Core Talent, University Regulation Reform, Customized Education

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, is delivering his inaugural speech at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 7th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, emphasized on the 7th in his inaugural speech that he will achieve a major transformation of the Ministry of Education by prioritizing 'education reform.'

At the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Our society is experiencing a digital transformation accelerated by COVID-19, and the student population has been halved. To overcome this crisis and leap forward as a global leader, revolutionary efforts to reform education are urgently needed."

He pointed out, "Our education field has not achieved any meaningful change due to fear and resistance to change as well as the amplification of ideological conflicts. Bureaucracy and administrative convenience within the education authorities, which are supposed to support the education field, are also obstacles to education reform."

Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated that freedom, autonomy, and horizontal cooperation are necessary for education reform. He emphasized, "First, the Ministry of Education itself must begin a major transformation that endures hardship. Through horizontal cooperation, we must induce changes in the field by contemplating and communicating together with teachers, schools, universities, local governments, education offices, other ministries, industry, and media."

On the 7th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho is answering reporters' questions at the Government Complex Sejong upon his inauguration.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee presented nurturing core talents for securing advanced technology, regulatory reform for innovative growth of regional universities, and realization of customized education as key tasks.

He said, "The education sector, industry, and government will join forces to strengthen talent development and research and development support in advanced national strategic industries such as semiconductors and digital technology. We will boldly abolish remaining regulations in the Ministry of Education and create and spread an innovative financial support model designed and operated autonomously and responsibly by universities and local governments."

Emphasizing customized education, he said, "We must completely redefine the type of talent we need to cultivate. To foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills, we will work with the field to consider what our next generation should learn and how to teach them."

He added, "Together with related ministries and agencies, we will systematically promote the integration of early childhood education and care management systems, and support all parents and students who wish for full-day elementary education by expanding after-school programs and care classrooms."

Regarding the Itaewon tragedy, Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Since students and teachers were among the victims, we will cooperate closely with related ministries and the education field to do our best in follow-up measures. We will review whether there are any improvements needed in safety education and always prioritize safety in school sites when implementing policies."

When meeting with reporters on the same day, he responded to criticism of past education policies by saying, "Although many efforts were made at that time, there were side effects, which I humbly accept. As times have changed significantly, I will approach this with an attitude of communication and listening."

President Yoon Suk-yeol officially appointed Lee Ju-ho as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education on the same day. This came 92 days after the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Park Soon-ae and 40 days after his nomination. Lee previously served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2009 and as Minister of the same ministry from 2010 to 2013, returning to lead the Ministry of Education after 10 years.

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