Ministry of Education "Comprehensive Review of Request for Audit on Jeong Ho-young's Child Transfer Privilege Controversy at Kyungpook National University"

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is holding a press conference to clarify allegations related to preferential treatment for his child's medical school transfer admission and military service corruption on the 17th at the auditorium of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education stated that it will review any audit requests received regarding allegations of preferential treatment in the transfer admission of the children of Jeong Ho-young, nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, to Kyungpook National University College of Medicine.

At the regular briefing with the Ministry of Education press corps on the 18th, a Ministry of Education official said, "The Ministry has strictly dealt with admission issues according to laws and principles," adding, "We will comprehensively review the allegations raised by the media and the audit request from Kyungpook National University to make a judgment."

In the past three years, there has been no precedent of the Ministry of Education conducting audits at the request of schools.

Meanwhile, starting from the 18th, Kyungpook National University has formed a candidate countermeasure committee to examine key issues such as the transfer admission process of the nominee's children, co-authorship participation in academic journal papers, and volunteer activities at Kyungpook National University Hospital, preparing for an investigation.

On the 17th, Kyungpook National University issued a press release stating, "We take pride in managing admissions fairly and strictly, with the university's honor at stake, but the series of allegations occurring are causing great damage to our university pride," and added, "We will request an audit from the Ministry of Education to dispel all suspicions."

Kyungpook National University explained, "If there is a request for materials related to admissions, we plan to cooperate within the scope permitted by laws such as personal information protection," and "If necessary, we will actively cooperate with audits and investigations by investigative agencies."

The nominee's daughter and son transferred to the College of Medicine in the 2017 and 2018 academic years, respectively, when the nominee was serving as a professor at Kyungpook National University College of Medicine and director of Kyungpook National University Hospital. They are suspected of having benefited from so-called 'dad's chance' during the transfer process.

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