Additional Points Granted in Employment Exam Ruled Unconstitutional

Regarding the employment exam for secondary school teachers, additional points provided to those who graduated from a college of education, double-majors, and second-majors is a violation of the constitution.

The Constitutional Court unanimously gave a verdict of unconstitutionality on Mr. Jung’s case of petition, who took the employment exam for secondary teachers in Daejeon in 2001 after acquiring a teacher’s license.

According to the verdict, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development plans to abolish the additional point system from the employment exam in 2005, which is supposed to be given in November this year.

The decision says that additional scores should clearly describe basic details in the law on the ground, that it causes preferential treatment for some groups among examinees, and the provision of additional marks damaged Mr. Jung’s right to be employed in government service since it is not supported by law.

Mr. Jung presented a constitutional petition, saying the additional point system was unconstitutional in December 2001, when the Education Department of Daejeon city announced requirements for the employment exam for secondary school teachers and gave three to five additional points for graduates from the College of Education in November 2001.

Tae-Hoon Lee jefflee@donga.com