Ongoing Private Education Cartel Reports... Presidential Office "Considering Legal Action"

Over 40 Reports to the 'Private Education Cartel and Corruption Reporting Center'
Confidence in Yoon Government Policy Direction... "Prompt and Stable Implementation"

On the 26th, the Presidential Office stated that regarding the 'interest cartel' in the private education market, "If judicial measures are necessary, that aspect can also be considered." According to the Ministry of Education, as of 9 p.m. on the 24th, 10 reports related to the private education cartel and 34 reports related to irregularities had been received at the 'Private Education Cartel and Irregularities Reporting Center,' which was established at 2 p.m. on the 22nd.

A key official from the Presidential Office said to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office building that afternoon, "I understand that various reports are coming into the Ministry of Education," and made the remarks.

In particular, he mentioned, "I saw in the morning newspapers today that about 40 reports have been received, and the relevant authorities should investigate thoroughly and take necessary actions." He added, "Currently, because of the private education system, students are very unhappy, parents are unhappy, and many of our teachers are also unhappy. It is a system in which the academic achievement of our students is declining." Among the reports currently received by the Ministry of Education, six cases were confirmed to be suspicions of collusion between private education companies and the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) question-setting system. Four cases involved 'forced purchases of bundled textbooks.' Other irregularity reports included four cases of 'additional collection of tuition fees,' four cases of 'false or exaggerated advertising,' and 26 other cases.

The official also expressed confidence in the government's direction for educational reform. He said, "Is it really right to continue maintaining such a system? From that perspective, the direction of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is correct," adding, "How to concretize that direction and implement it quickly and stably is important. We expect the Ministry of Education to carry it out well, and the Presidential Office is monitoring it."

The 'private education cartel controversy' recently arose after President Yoon Seok-yeol pointed out that "setting questions on the College Scholastic Ability Test that are not covered in the public education curriculum means that the education authorities and private education form a cartel." The government judged that private academies cause problems by recruiting students with ultra-difficult questions, so-called 'killer questions,' or by former CSAT question setters creating and selling mock exam questions. On this day, the Ministry of Education announced a 'private education reduction measure' that includes eliminating 'killer questions' from the CSAT and organizing CSAT question setters mainly from field teachers.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office clarified that the Yellow Envelope Act (Amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), which the Democratic Party of Korea has announced it will push through, is a different situation from the amendment to the Grain Management Act and the enactment of the Nursing Act. The Presidential Office explained, "It needs to be taken seriously as it could become legislation implying that existing laws do not have to be followed."

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