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E-commerce Firms Tighten Budgets Amid Rising Competition from C-commerce As competition from Chinese e-commerce platforms like AliExpress and Temu intensifies, domestic e-commerce companies are implementing stringent cost-cutting measures. These include relocating offices to reduce fixed costs and expanding voluntary retirement options to lower-tenured employees in a bid to improve profitability. According to the retail industry on June 17, Lotte On, the e-commerce division of Lotte Shopping, is accepting applications for voluntary retirement from employees until the end of this month. This marks the first voluntary retirement offer in two years since 2024. Employees with at least three years of service, including those in their 20s, are eligible to apply. The conditions for voluntary retirement have improved compared to two years ago. Lotte On will provide eligible employees with a lump sum payment of up to 12 months' salary. Additionally, employees with college-age children will receive 10 million won per child for educational expenses. This is an increase from the six months' salary offered during the last voluntary retirement program, indicating a strategy to attract as many applicants as possible. Launched in 2020 as a unified online mall for Lotte Group's retail business, Lotte On has struggled to turn a profit. In the first quarter of this year, it reported an operating loss of 5.8 billion won, a decrease of 2.7 billion won from the previous year, but it remains in the red. A Lotte On representative stated, "We decided to implement voluntary retirement to reorganize our workforce and become a more competitive organization in the rapidly changing e-commerce market." Gmarket, an e-commerce platform under Shinsegae Group, is also relocating its office from the Gangnam Finance Center in Seoul to the AM Plus building in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in October. Gmarket's consolidated revenue fell by 23% year-on-year to 740.5 billion won last year, and its operating loss nearly doubled to 122.4 billion won. The industry expects Gmarket to benefit from lower rental costs in Seongdong-gu compared to Gangnam. Previously, 11th Street moved its office from Seoul Square in front of Seoul Station to the U-Planet Tower in Gyeonggi Province in 2024. The monthly rent for U-Planet Tower is reported to be one-third of that at Seoul Square. Additionally, 11th Street has conducted voluntary retirement programs for three consecutive years since 2023, focusing on reducing fixed costs through office relocation and workforce restructuring. The tightening of budgets among domestic e-commerce firms is largely driven by the rapid growth of C-commerce. AliExpress and Temu have attracted domestic users by offering ultra-low prices, improved delivery speeds, and a wider range of products. Recently, even major domestic brands have begun to partner with C-commerce platforms, challenging the perception that these platforms offer low-quality goods. According to retail analytics service WiseApp & Retail, Temu's monthly active users (MAU) rose by 7.6% in May to 9,055,909, making it the second most popular comprehensive mall app. AliExpress also saw a 1.3% increase to 8,413,841 users, ranking fourth. Both platforms surpassed 11th Street (fifth) and Gmarket (sixth) in user rankings. Industry experts anticipate that the cost-cutting trend among domestic e-commerce companies will continue for the foreseeable future. With high inflation and a slowdown in consumer spending, the growth of the market has decelerated, and the price competition with C-commerce has made cost efficiency a top priority over aggressive expansion. An industry insider noted, "As C-commerce users grow rapidly, the burden on domestic e-commerce firms has increased," adding that domestic companies are likely to focus on cost reduction and organizational efficiency for the time being.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:08:00
E-commerce Firms Tighten Budgets Amid Rising Competition from C-Commerce As competition from Chinese e-commerce platforms like AliExpress and Temu intensifies, South Korean e-commerce companies are implementing stringent cost-cutting measures. These include relocating offices to reduce fixed costs and expanding voluntary retirement programs to include junior employees in an effort to improve profitability. According to the retail industry on June 17, Lotte On, the e-commerce division of Lotte Shopping, is accepting applications for voluntary retirement from employees until the end of this month. This marks the first voluntary retirement program since 2024. Employees with more than three years of service, including those in their twenties, are eligible. The terms have improved compared to two years ago. Lotte On will provide eligible employees with a lump sum payment of up to 12 months' salary. Additionally, employees with college-age children will receive 10 million won per child for educational expenses. This is an increase from the six months' salary offered during the last voluntary retirement program, indicating a strategy to attract as many applicants as possible. Since its launch in 2020 as a unified online mall for Lotte Group's retail business, Lotte On has struggled to turn a profit. In the first quarter of this year, it reported an operating loss of 5.8 billion won, a reduction of 2.7 billion won from the previous year, but it remains in the red. A Lotte On representative stated, "In response to the rapidly changing e-commerce market, we decided to implement voluntary retirement to restructure our workforce and become a more competitive organization." Gmarket, part of the Shinsegae Group, is also relocating its office from the Gangnam Finance Center in Seoul to the AM Plus building in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in October. Gmarket's consolidated revenue fell by 23% to 740.5 billion won last year, while its operating loss nearly doubled to 122.4 billion won. The industry expects Gmarket to benefit from lower rental costs in Seongdong-gu compared to Gangnam. Previously, 11st moved its office from Seoul Square in front of Seoul Station to the U-Planet Tower in Gwangmyeong in 2024. The monthly rent for the same space in U-Planet Tower is reported to be one-third of that in Seoul Square. Additionally, 11st has conducted voluntary retirements for three consecutive years since 2023, focusing on reducing fixed costs through office relocation and workforce restructuring. The tightening measures among domestic e-commerce companies are largely driven by the rapid growth of C-commerce. Platforms like AliExpress and Temu have attracted domestic users by offering ultra-low prices, faster shipping, and a wider selection of products. Recently, even major domestic brands have begun to partner with C-commerce platforms, diminishing the perception that these products are low-quality due to their low prices. According to retail analytics service WiseApp & Retail, Temu's monthly active users (MAU) rose by 7.6% in May to 9,055,909, making it the second most popular comprehensive mall app. AliExpress also saw a 1.3% increase to 8,413,841 users, ranking fourth. Both platforms outperformed 11st (fifth) and Gmarket (sixth) in user rankings. Industry experts predict that the cost-cutting trend among domestic e-commerce firms will continue for the foreseeable future. With high inflation and a slowdown in consumer spending, the growth of the market has decelerated, and the price competition with C-commerce has made cost efficiency a priority over aggressive expansion. An industry insider noted, "As C-commerce users grow rapidly, domestic e-commerce companies are feeling increased pressure," adding that they are likely to focus on cost reduction and organizational efficiency for the time being.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:08:00
E-commerce Firms Tighten Budgets Amid Rising Competition from C-Commerce As competition from Chinese e-commerce platforms like AliExpress and Temu intensifies, South Korea's e-commerce sector is implementing aggressive cost-cutting measures. Companies are relocating offices to reduce fixed costs and expanding voluntary retirement options to improve profitability. According to the retail industry on June 17, Lotte On, the e-commerce division of Lotte Shopping, is accepting applications for voluntary retirement from employees until the end of this month. This marks the first voluntary retirement program since 2024. Employees with at least three years of service, including those in their 20s, are eligible. The terms have improved compared to two years ago. Lotte On will offer eligible employees a lump-sum payment of up to 12 months' salary. Additionally, employees with college-age children will receive 10 million won per child for educational expenses. This is an increase from the six months' salary offered during the last voluntary retirement program, indicating a strategy to attract more applicants. Since its launch in 2020 as a unified online mall for Lotte Group's retail business, Lotte On has struggled to achieve profitability. In the first quarter of this year, it reported an operating loss of 5.8 billion won, a reduction of 2.7 billion won from the previous year, but it remains in the red. A Lotte On representative stated, "We decided to implement voluntary retirement to restructure our workforce and become a more competitive organization in the rapidly changing e-commerce market." Gmarket, part of the Shinsegae Group, is also relocating its office from the Gangnam Finance Center in Seoul to the AM Plus building in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in October. Gmarket's consolidated revenue fell by 23% year-on-year to 740.5 billion won last year, while its operating loss nearly doubled to 122.4 billion won. The industry anticipates that Gmarket will benefit from lower rental costs in Seongdong-gu compared to Gangnam. Previously, 11th Street moved its office from Seoul Square near Seoul Station to the U Planet Tower in Gyeonggi Province in 2024. The monthly rent at U Planet Tower is reportedly one-third of that at Seoul Square. Additionally, 11th Street has conducted voluntary retirement programs for three consecutive years since 2023, focusing on reducing fixed costs through office relocation and workforce restructuring. The tightening of budgets among domestic e-commerce firms is largely driven by the rapid growth of C-commerce. Companies like AliExpress and Temu are attracting domestic users with ultra-low prices, improved delivery speeds, and a wider range of products. Recently, even major domestic brands have begun to partner with C-commerce platforms, diminishing the perception that these platforms offer low-quality products. According to retail analytics service WiseApp & Retail, Temu's monthly active users (MAU) increased by 7.6% in May to 9,055,909, making it the second most popular comprehensive mall app. AliExpress also saw a 1.3% increase to 8,413,841 users, ranking fourth. Both platforms surpassed 11th Street (fifth) and Gmarket (sixth) in user rankings. Industry experts predict that the trend of cost-cutting among domestic e-commerce companies will continue for the foreseeable future. With high inflation and a slowdown in consumer spending, the growth of the market has decelerated, and the price competition with C-commerce has made cost efficiency a priority over aggressive expansion. An industry insider noted, "As C-commerce users grow rapidly, the burden on domestic e-commerce companies has increased," adding that these companies are likely to focus on cost reduction and organizational efficiency for the time being.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:08:00
BYD Aims to Triple PHEV Sales Compared to Electric Vehicles Chinese automaker BYD is accelerating its entry into the South Korean eco-friendly vehicle market with a self-developed hybrid system. After focusing solely on battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the company plans to expand its lineup to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the second half of this year. Ahead of this launch, BYD unveiled its core technology for the first time in South Korea.On June 17, BYD Korea held a '2026 DM-i Technology Briefing' in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, where it presented its dedicated PHEV technology. The DM-i system is a hybrid technology developed by BYD that primarily utilizes an electric motor while employing an engine as a supplementary power source.Kelvin Lai, BYD's Vice President of Product Strategy for Asia-Pacific Passenger Vehicles, stated, "BYD is the world's first to realize PHEV cultivation, and the global cumulative sales of vehicles equipped with DM technology have surpassed 8 million units."The unveiling of the DM-i technology is a strategic move ahead of the anticipated PHEV model launch later this year. Currently, BYD Korea is focusing on selling BEVs, such as the Atto 3, in the South Korean market, with no other electrified models like hybrids (HEVs) or PHEVs introduced yet.However, as the BEV lineup gains traction in South Korea, analysts interpret this as a signal that BYD is now targeting the PHEV market. Since entering the South Korean market last year, BYD's sales have increased significantly, from just 10 units sold in March 2022, which accounted for only 0.04% of the imported car market, to 1,032 units (3.46%) sold last month.While BYD Korea has not disclosed specific sales targets for PHEVs, it predicts that sales will be approximately three times higher than its current electric vehicle sales. This suggests a monthly PHEV sales volume of around 3,000 units. A BYD Korea representative noted, "Given that gasoline and HEVs dominate the market, we expect the demand to be higher than for electric vehicles."BYD Korea will unveil its upcoming PHEV model at the '2026 Busan Mobility Show' on June 26. Industry insiders speculate that the first model will be the mid-sized SUV 'Sea Lion 6,' which combines an electric motor-driven system with an engine and can travel approximately 100 kilometers on electric power alone. Domestic sales are expected to begin in the second half of this year.Ultimately, pricing will be crucial. If BYD employs a cost-effective strategy for the PHEV market, competition in South Korea's eco-friendly vehicle sector is likely to intensify. BYD's entry could spark a price competition in the PHEV segment and increase consumer interest, as PHEVs have not received significant attention compared to BEVs and HEVs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:00:00
BYD Targets PHEV Market, Aiming for Triple Sales Compared to EVs Chinese automaker BYD is accelerating its entry into South Korea's eco-friendly vehicle market with its independently developed hybrid system. After focusing solely on battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the company plans to expand its lineup to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the second half of this year. Ahead of this launch, BYD unveiled its core technology for the first time in South Korea.On June 17, BYD Korea held a '2026 DM-i Technology Briefing' in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, where it presented its PHEV-specific technology. The DM-i system is a hybrid technology developed by BYD that primarily utilizes an electric motor while employing an engine as a supplementary power source.Kelvin Lai, BYD's Vice President of Product Strategy for Asia-Pacific, stated, "BYD is the world's first to realize PHEV production, and the global cumulative sales of vehicles equipped with DM technology have surpassed 8 million units."The unveiling of the DM-i technology in South Korea comes as BYD prepares to launch its PHEV models later this year. Currently, BYD Korea is focusing on selling BEVs like the Atto 3 in the South Korean market, with no hybrid or PHEV models introduced yet.However, as the BEV lineup establishes itself in South Korea, analysts interpret this move as a signal for BYD to target the PHEV market. Since entering the South Korean market last year, BYD's sales have significantly increased; from just 10 units sold in March, representing a mere 0.04% market share, to 1,032 units sold last month, capturing 3.46% of the market.While BYD Korea has not disclosed specific sales targets for PHEVs, it anticipates that sales will be approximately three times higher than its current electric vehicle sales. This suggests a monthly PHEV sales volume of around 3,000 units. A BYD Korea representative noted, "Given that gasoline and hybrid vehicles dominate the market, we expect the demand for PHEVs to be higher than for electric vehicles."BYD Korea will unveil its upcoming PHEV model at the '2026 Busan Mobility Show' on June 26. Industry insiders speculate that the first model will be the mid-size SUV 'Sea Lion 6,' which combines an electric motor-driven system with an engine and can travel approximately 100 kilometers on electric power alone. Sales in South Korea are expected to begin in the second half of this year.Ultimately, pricing will be crucial. If BYD employs a cost-effective strategy for the PHEV market, competition in South Korea's eco-friendly vehicle sector is likely to intensify. BYD's entry could spark a price competition in the PHEV segment and increase consumer interest, as PHEVs have historically received less attention compared to BEVs and HEVs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:00:00
BYD Aims to Triple PHEV Sales Compared to Electric Vehicles Chinese automaker BYD is accelerating its entry into the South Korean eco-friendly vehicle market with its independently developed hybrid system. The company plans to expand its lineup, which has so far focused on battery electric vehicles (BEVs), to include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the second half of this year. Ahead of this launch, BYD unveiled its core technology for the first time in South Korea.On June 17, BYD Korea held a '2026 DM-i Technology Briefing' in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, where it presented its PHEV-specific technology. The DM-i system is a hybrid technology developed by BYD that primarily utilizes an electric motor while employing an engine as a supplementary power source.Kelvin Lai, BYD's Vice President of Product Strategy for Asia-Pacific Passenger Vehicles, stated, "BYD is the world's first to realize PHEV production, and the global cumulative sales of vehicles equipped with DM technology have surpassed 8 million units."The unveiling of the DM-i technology in South Korea comes as BYD prepares to launch its PHEV models later this year. Currently, BYD Korea's sales strategy in the South Korean market has been centered around BEVs, such as the Atto 3, with no hybrid (HEV) or PHEV models introduced yet.However, as the BEV lineup establishes itself in the South Korean market, analysts interpret this move as a signal that BYD is now targeting the PHEV segment. After entering the South Korean market in early 2022, BYD sold only 10 units in March, capturing just 0.04% of the import car market. Last month, however, the company sold 1,032 units, increasing its market share to 3.46%.While BYD Korea has not disclosed specific sales targets for PHEVs this year, it anticipates that PHEV sales will be approximately three times higher than its current electric vehicle sales. This suggests a monthly PHEV sales volume of around 3,000 units. A BYD Korea representative explained, "Since gasoline and HEVs dominate the market, we expect the demand for PHEVs to be higher than for electric vehicles."BYD Korea is set to unveil its PHEV model at the '2026 Busan Mobility Show' on June 26. Industry insiders speculate that the 'Sea Lion 6,' a mid-size SUV, will be the first model introduced. This vehicle combines an electric motor-driven system with an engine and can travel approximately 100 kilometers on electric power alone. Domestic sales are expected to begin in the second half of this year.Ultimately, pricing will be crucial. If BYD employs a cost-effective strategy for PHEVs, the competition in the South Korean eco-friendly vehicle market is expected to intensify. BYD's entry could spark a price competition in the PHEV segment and increase consumer interest, which has previously been limited compared to BEVs and HEVs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 04:00:00
BBQ Reopens in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD missile defense system controversy, is making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 locations this year, signaling an expansion of its local business. According to industry sources on June 17, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China this year. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides the brand and operational expertise. This model is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, following the deployment of THAAD in 2016, relations between China and South Korea soured, leading to a significant reduction in business and the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of Korean cultural content, such as K-dramas and K-pop, has increased interest in Korean food, and conditions for restaurant franchises have improved. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural exports to China rose by over 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having selected popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China. The company aims to secure 1,000 locations in China in the long term. If successful, this could accelerate BBQ's international expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations across 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China has a characteristic where once a brand establishes itself, it spreads quickly. While we need to observe the situation, there are positive trends emerging. It is one of the markets we are most optimistic about, alongside the United States." BBQ is not alone in its renewed focus on the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken also signed a master franchise agreement with a restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and has begun expanding its local operations, with 18 Kyochon Chicken locations currently in China as of the first quarter of this year. However, the experiences from the THAAD controversy remain a potential risk for entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that domestic companies find hard to give up due to its scale, but we must always keep in mind that the business environment can change rapidly due to political and diplomatic factors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
BBQ Resumes Expansion in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD missile defense system controversy, is now making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 locations this year as part of its expansion efforts. As of June 17, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides brand and operational expertise. This model is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, business contracted after the THAAD deployment in 2016 strained relations between China and South Korea, leading to the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of Korean content, such as K-dramas and K-pop, has increased interest in Korean food, improving conditions for restaurant franchises. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural and food exports to China rose by over 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having appointed popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China in January. The company aims to secure 1,000 stores in China in the long term. If successful, this could boost BBQ's international expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations in 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China is characterized by rapid brand expansion once established. While we need to monitor the situation, we are seeing positive trends. It is one of the markets we have high expectations for, alongside the United States." BBQ is not alone in its renewed focus on the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken also signed a master franchise agreement with a restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and is expanding its local operations. As of the first quarter of this year, Kyochon Chicken has 18 stores in China. However, the experiences from the THAAD controversy remain a potential risk for businesses entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that domestic companies find hard to give up due to its size, but we must always be aware that political and diplomatic factors can rapidly change the business environment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
BBQ Resumes Expansion in China Amid Rising K-Food Popularity BBQ, which had scaled back its operations in China following the THAAD deployment, is now making a comeback. After signing master franchise agreements with partners in major Chinese cities last year, the company has reopened over 50 stores this year, signaling a renewed focus on expanding its local business. According to industry sources, Genesis BBQ has resumed operations at more than 50 locations in China this year. This follows the signing of master franchise agreements in key cities such as Beijing, Qingdao, Jinan, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Xi'an, and Chengdu last year. A master franchise allows local companies to invest and operate while the headquarters provides the brand and operational expertise. This approach is favored by global franchise companies due to its lower initial investment and faster store expansion compared to direct ownership. BBQ entered the Chinese market in 2003 and once operated over 400 locations. However, business contracted after the THAAD deployment in 2016 strained relations between China and South Korea, leading to the closure of most stores. The recent push to expand in China is attributed to changes in the local market environment. The growing influence of K-dramas and K-pop has increased interest in Korean food, and conditions for foreign restaurant franchises have improved. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's agricultural exports to China rose by more than 15% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. BBQ is also enhancing its local marketing efforts, having selected popular actor Lee Min-ho as its advertising model across China. The company aims to secure 1,000 stores in China in the long term. If successful, this could accelerate BBQ's global expansion, which currently includes over 800 overseas locations in 57 countries. A BBQ representative stated, "China is known for its rapid brand expansion once established. While we need to monitor the situation, we are seeing positive trends. It is one of the markets we have high expectations for, alongside the U.S." BBQ is not alone in its renewed efforts in the Chinese market. Kyochon Chicken signed a master franchise agreement with a local restaurant company in Jilin Province last September and is also expanding its presence. As of the first quarter of this year, Kyochon Chicken operates 18 stores in China. However, the experiences from the THAAD incident remain a potential risk for businesses entering the Chinese market. An industry insider noted, "China is a market that is difficult for domestic companies to abandon due to its size, but we must always be aware that political and diplomatic factors can rapidly change the business environment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:52:00
New Policy Think Tank Launched to Shape Seoul's Education Vision A new policy think tank, consisting of 180 members, has officially launched to outline the next four years of Jeong Geun-sik's administration in Seoul's education sector. Jeong, the Superintendent of Seoul, described the committee as an 'open governance' body that will gather voices from the field and the community, marking the beginning of a significant overhaul of his campaign promises. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education held the inaugural meeting of the second Jeong Geun-sik Campaign Promise Committee, titled 'Learning is Happiness Seoul Education Committee,' on June 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the conference room of the new office in Yongsan-gu. This committee will focus on developing a concrete vision for Seoul's education. The committee has two main tasks: establishing the direction for Seoul's education and translating Superintendent Jeong's promises into actionable policy plans. It will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30. Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University's Law School, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, while Ham Young-ki, the former head of the Education Policy Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, will serve as vice-chair. The organization is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 divisions), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members. The 21 specialized committees will focus on implementing Jeong's five key promises. Major tasks include completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, restoring mental health and educational communities, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence, strengthening learning safety nets, and establishing a 'Reading Seoul' ecosystem that connects schools, neighborhoods, and the city. After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong emphasized the importance of the committee's 'openness' and 'communication with the field' in his remarks. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open, but also that the voices of citizens and everyone who hopes for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee." He further noted, "This committee is not led by a single superintendent; it is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint implementation, and joint evaluation' through sufficient discussion. I urge you to work hard to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education rather than showcasing individual capabilities." Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee will operate most effectively among the committees launched in 16 cities and provinces across the country. Kim Jae-hyung, the newly appointed chair, articulated an educational philosophy grounded in constitutional principles. He referenced Article 31 of the South Korean Constitution, stating, "Education, like housing, healthcare, and care, is not a matter of charity but a matter of rights, and basic education must be prioritized among those rights." He added, "To fulfill the public education mandate, including guaranteeing basic academic skills regardless of one's family background, I will approach each promise from the perspective of whether the rights of students, parents, and teachers are genuinely realized, committing to thorough verification of the promises in accordance with constitutional mandates." Moving forward, the committee will enhance the quality of its promise implementation plans through focused deliberations and discussions in each division. The final results of their activities will be compiled into a white paper and transparently disclosed to the public within 30 days after the committee's conclusion.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-18 03:44:00