[Opinion] A 2nd International School?

“I never said that there was outside pressure from Cheong Wa Dae nor the Ministry of Education and Human Resources,” said an official of Young Hoon, Young Hoon recently made a sudden decision to give up its plan to build an international middle school in Seoul. An international middle school is aimed at nurturing global human resources, and there are two such ones in Korea; one in Busan and the other in Gyeonggi.

“We yearned so much for the establishment of an international middle school that we literally begged Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources for approval,” said Kong Jeong-taek, the education superintendent in Seoul.

There are rumors that Young Hoon’s anti-Private School Act movement has caused unfavorable feelings from the government.

The Education Ministry, as well as the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers` Union (KTU), opposed the idea of an international middle school. They argued that such schools will encourage private education and shake the High School Equalization Policy. The rich have nothing to lose because they can afford to send their children to study overseas if the international middle school is not built. The government is opposed to the idea of an international middle school, but it is much cheaper than American private schools which have tuition fees of over $15,000 a year. Parents who are desperate to make their children talk like Americans even resort to expedients such as giving their children up for adoption so that they could study overseas.

President Roh’s son is taking an MBA course in the U.S. There are jokes that the president sent his son away to the U.S. because if not, he would be in jail in regards to the “The Sea Story” scandal. But if the president really sent his son overseas because of this reason, there is no reason for him to send his son to the U.S.

Considering the president’s remark that “it is worrisome that our economy is too influenced by American principles,” during his visit to France in 2004, he would have sent his son to Europe or even to Venezuela where the head of state is of the similar code to himself. However, Roh sent his son to the U.S. because he wanted his son to receive the best education, or at least learn English. He and all Korean parents feel the same way.

If he does not let ordinary Koreans to receive international education even in Korea, it is hypocritical. Also it would be imposing a double standard. That is, it would be the same as saying that it is okay for my child to receive the best education, but not okay for other kids. Then, are children of parents of average wealth doomed to remain within the country and be educated with anti-globalization ideas of KTU?

Kim Sun-deok, Editorial writer, yuri@donga.com