In Real Meter's May performance evaluation of the superintendents of education in cities and provinces nationwide, Seo Geo-seok, the superintendent of education in Jeonbuk, ranked 11th. Local educational organizations accepted this result as a "fair evaluation by the residents" and raised strong criticisms.

Real Meter, a public opinion research agency, conducts monthly performance evaluations of 17 superintendents of education in cities and provinces nationwide, with rankings up to 12th place disclosed in the May survey. Superintendent Seo had ranked 10th in February and 9th in March, but dropped to 11th place this time.

In response, the "Cham Education Forum," a gathering of teachers and education professionals in Jeonbuk led by No Byeong-seop, issued a statement on the 21st, stating, "The low evaluation is the result of arbitrary and undemocratic administration that excludes the voices of the education field," and warned, "The distrust of the residents can ultimately harm students and parents."

The forum stated, "While Superintendent Seo's lack of understanding of policies may be considered a reason for the poor evaluation, the residents' judgment is a comprehensive assessment of the policy direction over the past three years," and emphasized, "It is now necessary to reflect on the policy direction and take it as an opportunity for change and innovation."

In particular, the forum pointed out that the judicial risk of Superintendent Seo is one of the main factors contributing to the decline in trust. Superintendent Seo was fined 5 million won for 'false disclosure of facts' related to a case of assaulting a fellow professor during his tenure as the president of Jeonbuk University, and is currently awaiting the final decision of the Supreme Court. If a sentence of more than 1 million won is confirmed, he will automatically lose his position as superintendent.

Furthermore, the forum argued that recent suspicions of misconduct related to the education office reported in the media have exacerbated the residents' distrust. They emphasized that it is crucial to seriously consider the disappointment and growing resistance due to the failure to focus on education while shuttling between courtrooms and the lack of apologies or explanations to the residents.

The forum stressed that "Jeonbuk Education Office should humbly listen to public opinion and actively engage in reform and innovation," emphasizing the urgent need for fundamental changes for Jeonbuk education to regain trust and move in the right direction.