Chairman Choi Hojung: "If Leadership Wavers, School Sites Will Shake... Please Take Every Precaution"

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Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, visited the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 30th, which has entered an acting authority system due to the vacancy of the Superintendent of Education, and met with Acting Superintendent Seol Sehoon, urging him to ensure there is no gap in Seoul education.

Chairperson Choi said, "I came to visit to both express concern and offer support," adding, "If leadership wavers, the school field wavers. Until October 16, please thoroughly manage and supervise with the mindset that the acting authority is the Superintendent of Education."

Additionally, Chairperson Choi stated, "There are pressing issues such as the full expansion of Neulbom School, student and school safety including deepfake concerns, the November College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), and literacy and numeracy diagnostic tests," and emphasized, "These are tasks that cannot be postponed or delayed due to the absence of the Superintendent, so please carefully handle them and request cooperation from the council whenever necessary."

In particular, on this day, Chairperson Choi strongly criticized the collective statement issued by 157 educational officials including district superintendents and principals ahead of the Supreme Court's final ruling on former Superintendent Cho Heeyeon, pointing out that it violates the National Public Officials Act which prohibits collective actions by public officials.

Chairperson Choi said, "It is unacceptable for public officials, who must maintain political neutrality, to issue a collective statement under their positions and names," and requested, "Please investigate the facts and report to the council."

Acting Superintendent Seol Sehoon responded, "We will do our best to ensure that no issues, including safety problems, occur at schools," and added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is taking the matter of the collective statement seriously. We are currently verifying the facts and will take appropriate measures."

In response, Chairperson Choi said, "Especially, district superintendents of education support offices should supervise frontline educational officials to comply with laws and regulations, yet 9 out of 11 district superintendents in Seoul signed the statement. The council is taking this matter seriously," and urged, "Please investigate the facts, and if it is judged to be a violation of the law, make sure to hold those responsible accountable."

Article 66 of the National Public Officials Act prohibits public officials from engaging in collective actions for labor movements or other non-official duties, and violators may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

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