[6.3 Election] Kim Dae-jung's Game Changer: "Admissions Dream Team"... Dismissing Negativity with Facts

Kim Dae-jung, a preliminary candidate who declared his candidacy for Superintendent of Education for the Integrated Special City of Jeonnam and Gwangju, has drawn a clear line against the negative campaigning directed at him and unveiled his "Admissions Dream Team" comprised of high-profile external experts.

By citing the prosecutorial decision of "no charges" against him, he aims to put an end to fruitless political disputes and seize the initiative in the race with an ambitious "admissions roadmap" that matches the scale of the new megacity.

At 2 p.m. on the 15th, Kim Daejung, a preliminary candidate, officially declared his candidacy for the 'Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Superintendent of Education' at the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education press room. Photo by Lee Jungkyung

During the Q&A session that followed his candidacy announcement at 2 p.m. on the 15th at the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education press room, candidate Kim expressed his determination to directly address the "preferential rental allegations regarding an official residence," a controversy that has recently been spreading through the camps of rival candidates, including those from the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union background.

He began by stating, "Considering the current times, I did not think it was appropriate for an elected official to routinely use an official residence, so I tried to secure a home myself." He further explained, "Because my late mother left two Jindo dogs and other pets that we needed to raise together, we could not find a suitable rural house. My wife happened to see a rental banner, and we entered into a proper contract and paid rent for two years—nothing more."

Addressing the preferential treatment allegations directly, he said, "When people look for a rental, what matters is the contract. Who checks in detail what the landlord's family does for a living? I only learned from a news article that one member of the landlord's family was involved in a project related to the Office of Education." He dismissed the allegations, stating, "This issue has already been concluded with a 'no charges' decision from the police investigation."

A supporter who was present at the press conference also strongly criticized the smear campaign, saying, "Continuing to raise suspicions even after a thorough investigation by judicial authorities resulted in a decision of no charges is nothing but an unreasonable refusal to accept the rule of law in Korea."

With the political attacks behind him, candidate Kim's focus shifted immediately to his core policy: the "Integrated Special City University Admissions Strategy." He stressed that providing university admissions alternatives is directly linked to the survival of the region amid the crisis of local extinction, hinting that he has assembled a massive team of experts.

Candidate Kim, at the press conference that day, announced a blueprint to make the integrated special city a "Korea Education Special City" comparable to Seoul, with the urgent conviction that "if education dies, the region dies." Photo by Lee Jungkyung

Kim stated, "Once the integrated special city is established, much more advanced forms of special provisions and investments will become possible." He added, "We have formed an internal task force and are actively discussing our vision with experienced education experts such as Principal Kim Yong-tae, Director of Education Okyeong-mi, and Moon Seung-tae, Vice President of Sunchon National University."

Notably, Professor Kim Kyung-beom of Seoul National University—a university admissions and holistic admissions expert who serves on the National Education Commission and handles admissions policy—accompanied him to the press conference. Introducing Professor Kim on stage, candidate Kim expressed strong confidence in elevating the integrated special city's career and admissions system to the highest national standards.

Meanwhile, on the much-discussed issue of the "location of the integrated education office building," candidate Kim demonstrated a cautious yet pragmatic approach as an administrator. He drew a line, saying, "It would be unreasonable for the provincial office of education to decide on its building's location before the sites for the special city hall and council have even been determined."

He continued, "The integrated promotion team is currently deliberating on this matter, and after the election, we will gather sufficient input from experts and the citizens of the city and province through the Vision Committee." He added, "Rather than simply creating a physical space for everyone to gather, the direction will be toward establishing a future-oriented administrative system that makes work smarter and more streamlined."

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