[2023 National Audit] Contentious Education Committee Audit Focuses on 'Child School Violence Allegations and Medical School Quota Expansion' Intense Offensive

End of National Audit on 26th with Comprehensive Inspection
Questions Expected on 'Kim Seung-hee's Child School Violence Allegations'
University Hospital Directors Attend, 'Medical School Quota Expansion' Controversy

As the National Assembly's Education Committee's state audit concludes on the 26th, a final concentrated offensive by the opposition against the Ministry of Education and related agencies is expected during the comprehensive audit held that day. In particular, additional inquiries are anticipated regarding allegations of school violence involving the child of Kim Seung-hee, Protocol Secretary at the Presidential Office, and the government's plan to expand medical school quotas.

From 10 a.m. that day, the National Assembly will hold a comprehensive audit by the Education Committee. The committee will conduct audits targeting 13 institutions, including the Ministry of Education headquarters, the National Education Commission, and the superintendents of education for Gyeonggi Province and Chungcheongnam Province. The committee has been conducting audits since the 11th, covering 68 institutions including the Ministry of Education and city and provincial education offices nationwide.

On the final day of the audit, opposition inquiries are expected to focus on allegations of school violence involving children of high-ranking officials. On the 20th, during the Education Committee audit, opposition party whip Kim Young-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea revealed allegations that Kim Seung-hee’s third-grade elementary school daughter assaulted a junior female student, causing injury, which sparked controversy. Related inquiries are expected to continue with the attendance of the superintendent of education for Gyeonggi Province, where the elementary school is located. A National Assembly Education Committee official stated, "Inquiries regarding the school violence allegations involving Secretary Kim’s child are expected to continue," adding, "Requested materials are continuously being submitted."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho is responding during the National Assembly Education Committee's audit of the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission held on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Similarly, allegations surrounding 'school violence involving children' have also become a key issue concerning Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, and Jeong Soon-shin, former head of the National Investigation Headquarters. Chairman Lee is suspected of covering up school violence committed by his son while attending high school in 2011. Former head Jeong was forced to resign after it was revealed that his son bullied classmates for nearly a year in 2017, resulting in a forced transfer. The Democratic Party, at the party level, has cited the allegations against Secretary Kim, Chairman Lee, and former head Jeong, launching an offensive by calling the Yoon Seok-yeol administration "a regime that covers up school violence through 'Daddy’s chance'."

Regarding the witnesses appearing that day?directors of Seoul National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Chonnam National University Hospital?questions are expected to focus on the government’s policy to expand medical school quotas. Kim Young-tae, director of Seoul National University Hospital, stated during the previous day’s audit in response to People Power Party lawmaker Lee Tae-gyu’s question, "Do you agree with the expansion of medical school quotas?" that he "agrees that medical school quotas should be expanded as part of essential medical innovation measures." As the government has delayed announcing the scale of medical school quota increases and concerns about side effects of the policy have been raised, detailed debates on the plan are expected to continue during the audit that day.

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