"Project Changes, Personnel Turmoil"... Jeonbuk Provincial Council Slams Education Administration

Conflicting explanations over education chief recommendation system
Questions over unusual senior personnel appointment
Budget management and policy confusion also criticized

The credibility of Jeonbuk’s education administration came under scrutiny at the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provincial Council, following the sudden cancellation of a project to establish an education records center after 1.9 billion won had been invested over seven years, as well as conflicting explanations from the education office and the superintendent of education over the selection of education chiefs.

At its 433rd regular session on November 10, the Education Committee of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provincial Council questioned the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education on policy, pressing officials on unilateral changes to major education projects, opaque personnel decisions, and budget management.

The policy session focused on several major issues: ▲the abrupt suspension of a long-term education project ▲the appropriateness of education chief selection and senior personnel appointments ▲budget transparency ▲insufficient policy coordination between institutions ▲and safe exam administration in schools.

▶Cancellation of 1.9-billion-won project and controversy over education chief selection

First, during the policy session, Assemblywoman Park Suhyeong (proportional representation) questioned the circumstances behind the sudden cancellation of the education records center project, which had been pursued for seven years.

Park criticized the suspension of a project that had received years of budgetary and administrative investment, calling it an administrative decision that undermined the trust of residents and the education community.

She also stressed that, rather than focusing on constructing facilities, officials should first establish an educational philosophy and policy direction that define the kind of people they aim to develop through education.

The education office’s conflicting explanations about the selection of education chiefs also became a point of contention.

Education Committee Chair Jeon Yongtae (Jinan) said the education office’s explanation of the “Regional Recommendation Contest for Education Chiefs,” promoted by the superintendent of education’s transition committee, differed from the actual operational plan. Chair Jeon said, “The provincial education office explained that the recommendations were for reference only, but the operational plan clearly states that appointments will be made based on the list of nominees.” He expressed concern that trust in education administration was being undermined, saying, “There has been no accountable explanation, with the superintendent even saying that he had not received a report on the matter.”

▶Serving school principal assigned as policy bureau chief; legality of appointment questioned

An unusual senior personnel appointment by the education office also sparked controversy.

Assemblyman Jang Yeonguk (Jeonju 4) asked for the legal basis for assigning a serving school principal to the position of policy bureau chief at the provincial education office.

Jang said the school was being run by an acting principal because the serving principal had been assigned to the education office on the grounds that it would take time to find a suitable policy bureau chief, disrupting school operations.

He also noted that the provincial education office’s enforcement rules define the policy bureau chief position as one to be held by an educational supervisor, a local deputy director-general, or a general fixed-term civil servant at the equivalent of Grade 3 in an open position, and questioned whether the appointment complied with the relevant regulations.

Concerns were also raised that investigations and search-and-seizure operations related to the superintendent of education were heightening anxiety within the education office.

Assemblyman Choi Jong-o (Iksan 1) urged officials to “resolve the vacancy in the deputy superintendent of education position as soon as possible to maintain stability in education administration and continuity in policy.”

▶Budgets cut and then increased; timing of transportation subsidies varies

Problems were also pointed out in education finance management and the schedules for implementing key policies.

Assemblyman Han Jeongsu (Iksan 4) criticized the repeated practice of arbitrarily reducing the budgets for continuing projects in a given year and then increasing them again the following year.

Han called for transparency in budget management, saying that even the intended use of the reduced funds was unclear. He also urged officials to ensure that the ongoing organizational restructuring properly reflects the vision and policy direction of education administration.

Assemblyman Lee Byeongdo (Jeonju 1) asked why a campaign pledge to provide free bus fares for children and teenagers had been changed to a plan to subsidize teenagers’ public transportation costs.

Lee pointed to a lack of coordination between institutions, saying, “Jeonju City is pursuing the launch of the program in the second half of 2027, while the education office’s materials say it will begin in 2028.”

Assemblyman Kim Namgyu (Jeonju 11) stressed the need to develop a strategy to secure funding that reflects the educational environment in Jeonbuk’s rural and agricultural communities in response to the government’s moves to reform local education grants. He argued that education funding should not be allocated based solely on student numbers, since the teachers and facility maintenance costs needed to operate small schools continue to be necessary even as enrollment declines.

▶Review of responses to smart-glasses cheating and purchases from local businesses

Exam administration in schools and the education office’s contribution to the local economy were also discussed.

Assembly Committee Vice Chair Kim Umin (Gunsan 5) criticized the education office’s inadequate response to cheating with smart glasses.

He called on the office to go beyond simply sending out notices, clearly explain rules on possessing devices that could be used for cheating, such as smart glasses, and establish specific response guidelines for use at exam venues.

Assemblyman Im Jongmyeong (Namwon 2) criticized the low share of purchases from businesses in the province in the education office’s procurement process and called attention to the status of preferential purchasing from local businesses.

He also raised the issue that only 25% of former parent-association employees have had their work experience recognized, and called for better treatment commensurate with their workload.

With the Jeonbuk Provincial Council raising concerns about the education office’s policy-making process and overall administrative operations, attention is now focused on what explanations and improvements the provincial education office will offer regarding the project cancellation, personnel controversies, and other issues.

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