Dependence on private education in the public domain sparks controversy, calling for a comprehensive investigation and preventive measures to be taken by city and provincial education offices

Concerns about private education (hereinafter referred to as "concerns about private education") conducted a survey on the operation status of "college entrance explanation sessions" by local governments, city and provincial education offices, and schools nationwide. The results showed that a total of 51 places invited private education personnel as speakers during the sessions held from January to August this year, out of 146 places that held such sessions, accounting for approximately 34%. In particular, it was confirmed that Gochang County in Jeonbuk Province held an explanation session on July 16th at Dongri Gukakdang, inviting private education speakers.

Despite the Ministry of Education's issuance of a circular in November 2023 stating, "Do not collaborate or co-host college entrance explanation sessions with private education companies or invite private education company employees," concerns about private education pointed out that public institutions are still inviting private education speakers. They demanded strict prohibition guidelines and punishment regulations from educational authorities, calling it a "self-destructive practice of enhancing the credibility of private education with taxpayers' money."

Looking at the regions, cases of inviting private education speakers were prominent in some areas of the capital region and Yeongnam. It was counted as 12 places in Seoul, 7 places in Gyeonggi, and 8 places in Gyeongbuk. Particularly, the explanation sessions held in the 'Gangnam 3 Districts' such as Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa all invited private education companies and personnel. This shows that contrary to the existing belief that areas with low information accessibility rely more on private education, regions with a high dependence on private education are actually holding 'private education-invited explanation sessions' more frequently.

The organization emphasized that there are enough personnel within public education for college entrance guidance. The 'College Entrance Counseling Teacher Group' of the Korean Council for University Education has been increased to 500 members, and city and provincial education offices such as Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (109 members) and Jeonbuk Provincial Office of Education (155 members) are also operating 'University Admission Guidance Support Teams' with instructors capable of counseling and lecturing. Nevertheless, criticizing that some local governments inviting private education speakers is a "waste of taxpayers' money by relying on private education without utilizing public infrastructure."

Concerns about private education demanded that the Ministry of Education △initiate a comprehensive investigation of the first half of the year's explanation sessions △take appropriate measures against repeat violators △establish guidelines for utilizing the College Entrance Counseling Teacher Group and University Admission Guidance Support Teams. They also stated that they would "launch a strong citizen movement through petitions if there are recurrences," appealing for social solidarity to prevent public institutions from promoting private education.