Gyeongnam Provincial Council Condemns Superintendent's Repeated Absences from Plenary Sessions ... "Disregard for the Assembly"

Paek Jonghun States, "Attendance Is at the Discretion of the Superintendent"

The Gyeongnam Provincial Council has voiced strong criticism against Superintendent of Education Paek Jonghun for his repeated absences from plenary sessions. Superintendent Paek, however, countered by stating that attendance is at the discretion of the superintendent.

On March 19, before the opening of the 4th plenary session of the 430th extraordinary meeting, the expanded leadership group of the provincial council held a press conference in the council's briefing room, condemning what they called Superintendent Paek's "non-educational conduct" and expressing deep regret.

On March 10, before the start of the first plenary session of the extraordinary meeting, Council Chair Choi Hakbeom had already expressed strong regret over Superintendent Paek's five consecutive absences. When Paek was again absent on this day, another round of criticism ensued.

Since the closing of the 428th regular session in December last year, Superintendent Paek has not appeared at any of the council's events up to March of this year.

Just during this session, he has been absent from six consecutive plenary sessions, including two extraordinary meetings in January and four this month.

In January, his absence was due to health reasons, including acute indigestion. In March, he was away for meetings related to the establishment and operation of education office platforms and for signing work agreements with other education offices, which included visits to the National Education Commission, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education. On this day, he was on personal leave.

The expanded leadership group of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly is holding a press conference criticizing Superintendent of Education Park Jonghun's continuous attendance at the plenary session. Photo by Se-Ryung Lee

The expanded leadership group stated, "The plenary session and policy questioning, where the superintendent is supposed to explain the year's educational direction and answer questions before the residents of the province, have been left in a virtual vacuum." They further pointed out, "Policy questioning is an official responsibility where the superintendent must answer and explain directly to questions posed by assembly members on behalf of the residents, yet Superintendent Paek has failed to attend six consecutive times."

They continued, "Superintendent Paek must stop disregarding the provincial council and restore trust and respect between the residents and the assembly," demanding, "He must comply with the council's legitimate request for attendance."

The leadership group interpreted Superintendent Paek's absences as a reaction to last year's complete budget cuts of 2.63 billion won for the 'Future Education District Operation to Respond to the Population Decline Crisis' and 2.5 billion won for the Special Education Financial Support Fund within the 2026 education office budget.

They claimed, "After the budget cuts to the Future Education District project, which has been tainted by ideology and politics and poorly managed, Superintendent Paek's absences have continued." They added, "To characterize the proper decision-making process of the council as political conflict or an election issue is to disregard the residents and to neglect or deny the authority and responsibility granted to the representative body by the residents."

They also believe that the fact that Superintendent Paek, due to a three-term limit, will not run in the upcoming superintendent election and that his term is ending, has contributed to his absence.

The leadership group pointed out, "Currently, there are no clear sanction regulations when one fails to comply with a plenary session attendance request," adding, "We will work to improve relevant laws and systems concerning repeated absences of heads of local governments from plenary sessions."

They further stated that, similar to how a fine is imposed for non-attendance at administrative audits or investigations, the Council of Chairpersons of Metropolitan and Provincial Councils will seek practical ways to enforce the assembly's attendance requests.

Empty seat of the Superintendent of Education of Gyeongnam Province on the day of the 4th plenary session of the 430th extraordinary meeting of the Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly. Photo by Se-ryung Lee

Soon after the council leadership's press conference, Superintendent Paek issued a statement, saying, "I express my regret regarding the council's position and response to the superintendent's absence from the assembly."

He said, "As superintendent, I have truly respected the provincial council for the past 12 years," and added, "For the remainder of my term, whether or not I attend the assembly will be determined by the relevant laws and at the superintendent's discretion."

Previously, when the budget for the Future Education District was cut, Superintendent Paek remarked in the plenary session, "Given that all discretionary funds for the superintendent have been eliminated in this budget, I ask for your understanding that I was unable to thank each assembly member, even as a formality."

He also shared a personal anecdote from his childhood, recalling an incident where, during a family gathering, a drunken relative urinated on him. He stated, "If I had stood up in shock or turned on the lights, all the adults would have seen it, and the relative would have been embarrassed, possibly creating a more complicated situation. Out of concern, I just took it." He continued, "Including today, I have spent each day of the past four years with that mindset. I think I have served as superintendent for too long."

During the subsequent Monday meeting, he said, "I believe the provincial council has, with their own actions, turned away from the urgent need to prevent the depopulation of our region." He added, "I believe these actions by the council, cutting the budget without justification, should be judged by our residents."

Before the terms of the 12th Provincial Council and Superintendent Paek expire, there are two more extraordinary meetings scheduled in April and June.

With the release of Superintendent Paek's statement, his attendance at the assembly remains uncertain.

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