Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Education, "Veto on National Funding for Free High School Education Due to Deteriorating Educational Conditions"

Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Education for Gyeongnam Province, criticized and expressed concern over the government's exercise of the veto power on the amendment to the Local Education Finance Grant Act, commonly referred to as the 'Extension Bill for National Funding Support of Free High School Education,' on the 14th.

Superintendent Park issued a statement titled “Urging the Government to Take Responsibility for Free High School Education.”

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

He said, “In December last year, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Local Education Finance Grant Act that extended the sunset clause of the special provision on the financial burden for free high school education by three years,” adding, “Through this, the social significance and value of public education were reaffirmed, but today the government decided to exercise its veto power on this bill.”

Superintendent Park argued, “This destabilizes the financial management of all metropolitan and provincial offices of education and will further lead to a serious deterioration in the educational environment for children.”

He also stated, “If this bill is not implemented, our education office alone will have to bear an additional burden of 61.6 billion won in contributions from the national and local governments.”

“This is not merely a matter of financial burden; it will negatively impact major projects promoted by each metropolitan and provincial office of education, as well as facility costs for improving the educational environment and budgets related to student safety, inevitably leading to a decline in the quality of education,” he added.

Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon also posted a criticism of the government's veto of the national funding bill for free high school education on his social networking service (SNS). Park Jong-hoon Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Facebook

Superintendent Park emphasized, “Do not evade the national responsibility for free high school education.”

He further appealed, “Shifting the budget for free high school education onto metropolitan and provincial offices of education undermines educational autonomy and worsens students’ educational conditions,” urging, “Please remember that the state’s responsibility for education lies not in boasting about brilliant achievements but in establishing a solid foundation.”

The amendment, passed by the opposition-led National Assembly on December 31 last year, extends by three years from 2024 the temporary provision introduced in 2019, which stipulated that the government, education offices, and local governments share the costs of free high school education over five years.

On the same day, Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, exercised the veto power on the amendment to the Local Education Finance Grant Act.

Acting Prime Minister Choi explained the reason for the veto, citing the need for sufficient consultation, stating, “If the grants and local education finances are used effectively this year, local governments have sufficient capacity to bear the costs of free high school education. However, if the state excessively provides additional funding, it will hinder efficient fiscal management nationwide and ultimately increase the burden on the public.”

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