[Mental Health Blind Spots, Universities②] Koh Youngsun, President of KEDI: "No Prescription Without Data"

Accurate Diagnosis Must Come First for University Students’ Mental Health
Government Support Needed—Leaving It Solely to University Autonomy Is Not Enough
Moving Beyond ‘Policy Activism’: Results and Performance Must Be Made Public

"Current education policies seem to resemble a soccer match where players are told to run hard without keeping track of how many goals have been scored."

On October 1, Koh Youngsun, President of the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), said in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, "In order to address the growing challenges around mental well-being among students, including university students, the most important thing is to first build accurate data." She stressed that it is only through a precise diagnosis—understanding where and how indicators of mental well-being are deteriorating—that appropriate preventive measures can be established. Since taking office as KEDI president in 2024, Koh has emphasized the importance of 'scientific data' in education; in her inaugural address, she pledged to support the formulation of policies based on empirical evidence, not on prior beliefs or personal judgments.

Koh Youngsun, President of the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at Cafe Gather Gwanghwamun Branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Problems of Data Gaps and Lack of Transparency

The first issue Koh pointed out regarding university students' mental well-being was not the lack of policies, but rather the lack of data. Government agencies and local education offices have been placing counselors and support staff at schools and conducting surveys and various initiatives related to socio-emotional competencies. However, Koh noted that systematic analysis of how students' levels of depression, anxiety, and socio-emotional status have actually changed before and after policy implementation has been inadequate.

She commented, "It is not enough to simply announce the implementation of an initiative; the outcomes and results must also be public and visible." Koh further noted that the absence of data in our educational administration is not limited to mental health among university students, but is a more pervasive issue across various government initiatives. "While many projects are announced with plans for implementation, there is a shortage of data on their actual outcomes or results," she said, adding, "Excluding sensitive areas like personally identifiable information, there must be a system for researchers to secure and utilize data to the extent necessary for policy analysis."

She also mentioned the possibility of utilizing infrastructure held by KEDI or the Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS). "Within the education sector, there is a tendency to shy away from data disclosure due to an emphasis on the value of equality," Koh said. "However, we must be able to face and diagnose the reality of inequality in order to consider what policies or support can be provided to disadvantaged schools or students, and to develop policies accordingly." She described this as a 'learning by doing' approach to policymaking, adding, "If everything is kept hidden as it is now, it becomes difficult to continuously improve policy."

Moving Away from 'Policy Activism'—Solutions First, Questions Later

Koh also pointed out the need to change the practice of introducing new measures without first evaluating the data. Citing an OECD report that describes South Korea as having an excessive tendency towards ‘policy activism’, she said, "Rather than simply rushing to add new policies, we should start by verifying policy effectiveness through the accumulated data that already exists."

"When a social issue becomes prominent, ministries are pressured to devise countermeasures and, in many cases, new policies are rolled out within just two to three months," Koh noted. "The Ministry of Education has access to a substantial amount of data that can be utilized as needed, so it is better positioned to improve policies by reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating existing ones, rather than constantly creating new ones," she said.

Koh Youngsun, President of the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at Cafe Gather Gwanghwamun Branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

She sees such data gaps as especially critical when it comes to student mental well-being, as it is necessary to trace when the warning signs of crisis begin and how they accumulate, by following the trajectory from elementary, middle, and high school through to university, and even into entry to the labor market.

Disconnected Mental Health Data... The Need for ‘Linkages’

Koh believes that government-level support and systematic management are also needed for university students’ mental health. Currently, coalitions of student counseling centers at universities conduct related surveys, but much of this depends on voluntary efforts; hence, she suggested that government support should be considered. Koh further proposed that attention should be given not only to young people graduating from university, but also to youth who do not pursue higher education.

Looking ahead, she stated that KEDI would take a more systematic approach in examining students' mental well-being. "KEDI has researchers specializing in the socio-emotional domain, so I think it is necessary to approach this issue systematically," she said. "We will consider how best to research students’ socio-emotional competencies and mental health."

Go Youngsun, President of the Korea Education Development Institute (KEDI), is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at Cafe Gather Gwanghwamun branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

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