Seoul Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik: “Infringements of teachers’ authority, ‘True Education’ like in a drama?… They should be solved through systems rather than retribution” - 경향신문

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Seoul Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik is interviewed at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. Jung Hyo-jin, reporter

Reelected in the June 3 nationwide superintendents’ election, Seoul Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik cited advancing a social consensus on restricting students’ use of mobile phones and other digital devices as a core task for his second term. While he drew a clear line against the claim that the Student Rights Ordinance is the cause of the decline in teachers’ authority, he said the ordinance could be supplemented to reflect changes in the digital environment.

In an interview with the Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 22nd at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Jeong said, “Confirmation bias driven by algorithms is the biggest enemy of civic education,” adding, “To prevent this, we need to restrain mobile phone use and strengthen reading and discussion.” He went on to argue, “We need to further advance social agreement on students’ refraining from using mobile phones.”

Jeong said the discussion on the ‘Alpha Phone’ proposed by Kim Young-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former chair of the National Assembly Education Committee, could also be referenced. The idea is to distribute student phones that keep essential functions such as calling, location tracking, and transit cards, while blocking access to social media, games, and harmful content.

Under the current Elementary and Secondary Education Act, students are in principle prohibited from using smart devices during class, and principals and teachers may restrict use and possession to protect the right to learn and ensure educational activities. The criteria and methods of restriction can be set by school regulations. The Seoul Student Rights Ordinance likewise allows the time and place of electronic device use to be restricted through school rules created with student participation.

If restrictions are tightened beyond current levels, there is a possibility that opposition among students will grow. In response, Jeong said, “If needed in an educational context, we should teach students to practice self-restraint through discussions with them,” adding, “If necessary, we could also consider supplementing the Student Rights Ordinance.”

However, Jeong drew a firm line against calls in some quarters to abolish the ordinance, saying, “Teachers’ authority has not declined because of the Student Rights Ordinance.” He indicated that while the ordinance’s basic framework should be maintained, discussions could continue on supplements that reflect the changed environment.

Previously, during former Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon’s tenure in 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education prepared a revision to the Student Rights Ordinance that specified not only students’ rights but also their responsibilities and duties, and stated that they must not infringe upon the rights of other students and staff. However, as the Seoul Metropolitan Council focused on abolition, it was not deliberated.

On the Netflix series <참교육> highlighting the ‘decline of teachers’ authority’, he said, “If you base things on an exaggerated drama, you get exaggerated policies,” stating that institutional alternatives such as a ‘state litigation liability’ scheme are needed rather than dramatic retribution. Jeong said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s system for protecting teachers’ authority is 7080% complete,” adding, “The most lacking part is a dedicated organization and system to support teachers facing malicious civil complaints or lawsuits. We will consider separately whether a standalone unit, such as a ‘Bureau for the Protection of Educational Activities’, is needed for this.”

Jeong also offered his view on the reinstatement of Teacher Ji Hye-bok, who reported an on-campus sexual violence case three years ago and was subsequently transferred and dismissed. In April, the court presented a mediation recommendation canceling the dismissal, but Ji did not accept it. Ji first asked the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to fulfill eight demands, including withdrawing the criminal complaint, paying wages for the transfer and dismissal period and compensating for the denial of whistleblower status, and disciplining those responsible.

Jeong said, “If the mediation recommendation had been accepted, we were prepared to proceed with reinstatement as quickly as possible,” adding, “We are reviewing most of the demands positively, but extralegal agreements that exceed what the law allowssuch as compensation for damages and staff disciplineare impossible.” He continued, “If (Teacher Ji’s side) withdraws the demand for staff discipline, we can consider canceling the criminal complaint.”

As a new task for progressive education, he proposed the ‘Korean Baccalaureate (KB)’. Jeong said, “We need a next 2.0 model that inherits the achievements of innovation schools that have continued for more than 10 years,” adding, “What remains is to build, in a Korean style, a certification system akin to the International Baccalaureate (IB), which pursues a similar direction to innovation schools.”

Regarding civic educationwhich is expected to be further strengthened in the second termhe proposed a comprehensive approach encompassing constitutional education, global citizenship education, and ecological education. Jeong said, “We must foster global citizens who can embody constitutional values based on a correct sense of history,” adding, “We are also considering establishing a Peace Education Institute and a Constitution Education Institute.”

On the local education finance grants now under discussion for overhaul, he emphasized that essential needs in the field of education must be guaranteed. Jeong said, “Budgets necessary for guaranteeing basic academic skills, multicultural education, basic education including early childhood education, artificial intelligence (AI) education, student mental health, and the improvement of aging facilities must be firmly guaranteed,” adding, “With the increased budget, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will boldly pursue facility investments for school space innovation, alleviating overcrowded schools, and expanding student mental health and sports activities.”