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Seoul education chief’s trip to Mongolia stirs controversy

Seoul education chief’s trip to Mongolia stirs controversy

Posted September. 30, 2014 01:26,   

한국어

It has turned out that sightseeing was included in Seoul Education Chief Cho Hee-yeon’s seven-day business trip to Mongolia from Aug. 28 to Sep. 3. It was when tensions were mounting as parents staged a large protest in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education against his policy to abolish the autonomous private schools.

Cho went to Mongolia with his entourage of four people, according to the education office’s report on the visit to the Ulan Bator city government in 2014, which was obtained by the Dong-A Ilbo. The purpose of the visit was to seek ways to increase educational exchanges between the capitals of Korea and Mongolia.

The problem was the schedule. After his arrival in Mongolia on Aug. 28, Cho carried out his business schedule on Aug. 29, Sep. 1 and Sep. 2. But on weekend, his schedule was about cultural exploration such as sightseeing, which is not related to the purpose of his business trip.

Back then in Seoul, the parents whose children are attending autonomous private schools were demanding an interview with the chief and the education office’s employees were struggling to assuage them. It would have been difficult for Cho to arrange official meetings in Mongolia on the weekend. Nevertheless, some point out that the education cheif should have rearranged the schedule of his trip since the invitation was made two months earlier on July 7,and the elite school issue grew serious at that time.