Seoul: Jung Keun-sik, recently elected as Seoul’s education chief, has pledged to enhance communication with teachers and students by making weekly visits to educational sites. His commitment follows a tightly contested by-election victory, where he emerged narrowly ahead of his conservative rival.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jung Keun-sik, a former professor at Seoul National University and a noted liberal educator, succeeded in the by-election held to replace the previous superintendent, Cho Hee-yeon. Cho was removed from his position following a conviction for abuse of power. During his campaign, Jung promised to continue the policies of his predecessor.
Jung’s victory came with a notably low voter turnout of 23.48 percent, highlighting a need for increased public engagement in educational matters. In response, Jung has vowed to boost Seoul citizens’ interest in education through more proactive and inclusive communication strategies.
On his first day in office, Jung approved the creation of a new l
earning diagnosis and healing center. This facility is designed to assist students who face learning difficulties and borderline intellectual functioning, marking a significant first step in his administration’s focus on educational support and reform.