Aju Press - Asia News Hub

Journalist

Latest by

Nine out of Ten International Students Attend Private Universities as Education Cost Gap Widens Private universities in South Korea, facing a sharp decline in the school-age population, are increasingly relying on international students for survival. Currently, nine out of ten international students in the country are enrolled in private institutions.Despite years of frozen tuition rates, private universities are reinvesting more than 2.3 times their tuition revenue into education. However, the gap in per-student education costs compared to state-funded public universities is widening, raising concerns about a structural crisis in higher education.The Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) announced on September 10 that it has published the "2024-2025 University Education Statistics Yearbook," which analyzes key indicators across 195 four-year universities in the country (151 private, 39 public, and 5 branch campuses).One of the most notable changes is the explosive growth in the number of international students. The number of international students at South Korean four-year universities surged from 97,477 in 2021 to 152,838 in 2025, marking a 56.8% increase (55,361 students) over four years.Private universities are at the forefront of attracting these students. As of 2025, 89.7% of all international students, totaling 137,080, are enrolled in private universities, while only 15,758 (10.3%) are in public institutions. Particularly, private universities in non-capital regions, which are facing their own crises, saw a 24.4% increase in international students, rising from 45,725 in 2024 to 56,884 in 2025.This trend indicates that attracting international students has become a core survival strategy for private universities, going beyond mere internationalization to help maintain local populations. The majority of these students come from Asia, with 91.2% from countries such as China (35.5%), Vietnam (24.6%), and Mongolia (6.0%).Despite challenging financial conditions, private universities continue to invest heavily. In 2025, private universities generated a total tuition revenue of 9.9551 trillion won, accounting for 48.1% of their operating income. They invested approximately 22.9716 trillion won in total education costs, achieving an education cost return rate of 230.9%.Additionally, the average scholarship per student reached 52.5% of the average tuition, effectively realizing a 'half-price tuition' scenario.However, the gap with public universities, which receive substantial government funding, continues to grow. In 2024, the average education cost per student at public universities was 25,925,000 won, compared to 17,386,000 won at private universities. The per-student education cost gap has expanded from 3.62 million won in 2020 to 8.539 million won in 2024, nearly 2.4 times larger in just four years.Moreover, the prolonged freeze on tuition has led universities to reduce their financial burdens by decreasing the proportion of full-time faculty (39.1%) while increasing the share of part-time instructors (60.9%).While the enrollment rate for new students at non-capital region private universities reached 98.0% in 2025, up from 90.2% in 2021, this figure is misleading. The increase is not due to rising popularity but rather a painful result of private universities reducing their admission quotas by 9,729 students.The crisis facing regional universities is directly linked to data on 'regional extinction.' Among the 229 cities and counties nationwide, 61 universities (23.3%) are located in areas classified as at risk of extinction (levels 3 and 4), with 45 of these being private institutions. This places private universities at the forefront of the struggle for survival.This comprehensive crisis has also led to a decline in international competitiveness, with only 20 South Korean universities (16 private and 4 public) making it into the top 800 of the QS World University Rankings in 2026.Hwang In-sung, Secretary General of the KCUE, stated, "While private universities educate nine out of ten international students in the country, the gap in tuition and educational infrastructure support between public and private institutions is significant. It is crucial to urgently expand financial support for higher education on a student basis and to enhance support for universities in non-capital regions to prevent disparities in educational opportunities based on institution type or location."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:36:00
Finance Minister Gu Yoon-cheol Reaffirms Focus on Actual Residence for Housing Tax Benefits Finance Minister Gu Yoon-cheol reaffirmed the government's principle of concentrating tax benefits on actual residence rather than mere home ownership during a parliamentary session on September 11. The opposition criticized the government's proposal, arguing that homeowners who cannot reside in their properties due to work or children's education may face increased tax burdens.During the economic sector question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, Gu explained that the aim of the real estate tax reform is to shift the tax system to provide more incentives for actual residents.Park Soo-min, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party, raised concerns that homeowners who do not live in their properties could see their tax burdens increase. He argued that it is unfair to penalize homeowners through the tax system when they may have to live elsewhere due to job relocations or family obligations.In response, Gu indicated that the government would broadly recognize reasonable exceptions for those unable to reside in their homes due to schooling or employment. He emphasized that the government is not seeking to penalize non-residents but rather to redesign the system to enhance tax benefits for actual residents. Following backlash from non-resident homeowners after the tax reform announcement, the government has been considering ways to broadly acknowledge reasonable non-residency reasons in its implementation guidelines.The debate over the reform of the long-term capital gains tax exemption also continued. The government is proposing to transition the existing long-term capital gains tax exemption to focus on actual residence rather than ownership duration.According to the proposed changes, the current exemption structure, which applies a 4% deduction for both ownership and residence periods, will gradually shift to prioritize residence. Starting in 2029, the ownership deduction will be eliminated, and an 8% deduction, with a maximum of 80%, will be applied based on the residence period. A new cap on the exemption amount is also set to be established, with 2 billion won in 2028 and 1 billion won from 2029 onward.Park pointed out that increasing tax burdens on long-term homeowners who have built their assets over time due to significant capital gains is excessive. He specifically noted that older homeowners selling their properties to secure retirement funds could face heightened tax pressures.Gu maintained that there is a need to normalize taxation on substantial capital gains from high-value properties. He stated, "A home should not just be for ownership but should be a place to live." He further explained that taxation should align with income levels when significant capital gains are realized from high-value properties.The government's decision to revise the long-term capital gains tax exemption is based on the assessment that tax benefits are disproportionately concentrated on high-value properties. According to the National Tax Service, approximately 5.1 trillion won in long-term capital gains tax exemptions applied to high-value properties exceeding 1.2 billion won in 2024, with about 90%, or 4.6 trillion won, concentrated in Seoul. Among the top 100 cases of long-term capital gains tax exemptions, 99 were properties located in Seoul.However, how broadly the government will recognize the circumstances of homeowners who cannot reside in their properties due to unavoidable life situations while maintaining the principle of residence-based taxation is expected to be a key issue moving forward. The 1 billion won cap on the long-term capital gains tax exemption is also likely to be a major point of contention during the National Assembly's review process.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:36:00
Muan International Airport Activists Demand Transparency on Runway Safety The Muan International Airport Activation Committee has urged the government to disclose the results of runway safety inspections and to provide a clear roadmap for the airport's reopening, amid concerns that the reopening could be delayed for an extended period due to safety issues.On the morning of September 11, the committee held a protest in front of the Muan County Office, stating, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Airports Corporation must provide accurate information regarding the safety issues of Muan International Airport's runway and present a timeline for normalization to the local community."Recently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed durability issues with the runway surface during inspections and is conducting additional safety checks with the involvement of specialized agencies. Based on the inspection results, the ministry plans to establish a repair plan and subsequent measures.As discussions arise about the possibility of temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport, local opposition is growing, particularly as forecasts suggest that the reopening of Muan Airport may be significantly delayed.In their statement, the committee questioned whether sufficient inspections and maintenance had been conducted during the prolonged closure of the airport, rather than focusing solely on the runway safety issues.They stated, "There was time to inspect and maintain the runway during the operational suspension, yet now, as discussions about reopening are underway, concerns about the need for extensive repairs have emerged." They demanded transparency regarding the processes and results of previous runway inspections and management.The committee specifically called for the release of annual runway Pavement Condition Index (PCI) data and recent safety inspection results, asserting that immediate repairs should commence, potentially involving independent experts for objective verification.The committee also expressed strong opposition to the consideration of temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport.They stated, "The discussion of resuming international flights at Gwangju Airport, 18 years after they were moved to Muan Airport in 2008, could exacerbate local distrust in the normalization policies for Muan Airport."They emphasized that rather than establishing separate facilities for temporary international flights, resources and administrative efforts should be focused on restoring safety facilities and repairing the runway at Muan Airport.However, it should be noted that the temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport are still under consideration by the government and have not been finalized. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has also stated that a final safety assessment for Muan Airport's runway has not yet been made, and they will develop repair plans and subsequent measures based on the inspection results.The committee highlighted that the prolonged closure of Muan Airport is impacting local businesses, tourism, and logistics, urging the government to promptly present a comprehensive roadmap for the full reopening of Muan International Airport, including schedules for safety facility restoration and runway repairs.They also linked the issue of relocating the military airport in Gwangju to the normalization of Muan Airport.The committee stated, "Without the normalization of Muan Airport, there can be no progress on the military airport relocation referendum," and warned that they would oppose any discussions or referendums related to the military airport relocation if the government does not present a clear plan for the normalization of the airport.They also indicated that if their demands are not met, they would consider legal action against officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Airports Corporation, as well as collective actions such as protests in the capital.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is currently conducting additional safety inspections after confirming durability issues with the runway surface at Muan International Airport. The ministry plans to disclose detailed information and subsequent procedures after a safety assessment is made following reviews by specialized agencies, and they maintain that the temporary international flights at Gwangju Airport are still under consideration but have not been confirmed as of now.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:32:10
South Korean Prime Minister Denies Kim Hyun-ji Made Recommendations for Ministerial Candidates South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on September 11 that the recommendations for controversial ministerial candidates Kim Seung-won and Yong Hye-in were not made by Kim Hyun-ji, the head of the Presidential Secretary's Office. "That is absolutely not the case," she said during a government Q&A session in the National Assembly.Han explained that there are procedures within the personnel committee and organizations that specialize in verifying recommendations. She emphasized that the process involves regular communication with the Blue House and gathering various information about the candidates before making recommendations.In response, ruling party lawmaker Koo Ja-geun clarified that the notion of Kim Hyun-ji being a key figure is not a claim made by him or the People Power Party, but rather a statement from former Democratic Party spokesperson Seo Yong-joo. Koo also raised concerns about whether behind-the-scenes influences are undermining the president's authority over personnel decisions, referencing the controversy surrounding lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk's comment about recommending his sister.However, when Koo asked if she would consider withdrawing the nominations for the two candidates, Han effectively rejected the idea, stating, "There is still time for the confirmation hearings," indicating that the candidates should be given the opportunity to clarify their positions during the hearings. 2026-09-11 16:32:00
Yoon Suk Yeol Acquitted in First Trial Over Lee Jong-seop's Ambassador Appointment Yoon Suk Yeol, indicted for allegedly appointing former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop as Ambassador to Australia to facilitate his escape from prosecution, was acquitted in a first trial. The court found no evidence that Yoon was aware of Lee's travel ban and determined that the appointment could be viewed as an exercise of presidential authority.The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Cho Hyung-woo, delivered the not guilty verdict on September 11 for Yoon, who faced charges of aiding a fugitive, abuse of power, and violating the State Public Officials Act.Co-defendants including former National Security Office chief Cho Tae-yong, former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, former presidential secretary for public integrity Lee Si-won, former National Security Office chief Jang Ho-jin, and former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung were also acquitted.The court concluded that Yoon did not know about the travel ban imposed by the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) when he directed Lee's appointment as ambassador. It also noted that Yoon may have only perceived Lee as a 'controversial figure' in the CIO.The ruling stated, "It is difficult to infer that Yoon had a specific awareness of the possibility of criminal punishment for Lee and intended to obstruct or interfere with the CIO investigation. The appointment as Ambassador to Australia can be seen as an exercise of the unique personnel authority of a head of state."The court raised questions about whether the ambassadorial appointment constituted aiding a fugitive, explaining that foreign ambassadors are officially recognized and can be contacted regularly, which is fundamentally different from typical evasion. The crime of aiding a fugitive is established when it makes the discovery or arrest of the fugitive impossible or significantly difficult, and merely delaying or complicating the investigation is insufficient.There was also no evidence that Yoon formally advanced the appointment process to facilitate Lee's departure or improperly directed the lifting of the travel ban. The actions of the other defendants were deemed to fall within the scope of normal duties, making it difficult to recognize a conspiracy to aid a fugitive. The court concluded that there was insufficient evidence for the abuse of power charges as well.The special investigation team for the deceased Marine, led by Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun, alleged that Yoon directed Lee's appointment and departure to avoid an expanded investigation into the so-called 'VIP anger' allegations related to a direct call with Lee.Lee Jong-seop left for Australia in March 2024 but returned 11 days later amid growing controversy and resigned from his ambassadorial position. The special prosecutor sought a five-year prison sentence for Yoon.Yoon's legal team stated immediately after the verdict, "This is a very natural conclusion when viewed in light of the law and the records." They added, "Being a target of political criticism does not automatically constitute a crime, and criminal responsibility should be judged based on strict legal principles and evidence."They also urged the special prosecutor to forgo an appeal regarding the abuse of power charges in the Chae Sang-byeong case, stating that accepting the ruling is appropriate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:32:00
Korean shamanism finds new life in pop culture SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Drums pound, bells shake and chants rise as a mudang, or Korean shaman, appears to slip between worlds, communicating with spirits through an electrifying ritual of music, dance and trance. For millions of moviegoers, the spectacle became familiar through a famous gut scene in director Jang Jae-hyun's 2024 occult blockbuster "Exhuma." Gut, an ancient Korean shamanic ritual performed to communicate with spirits, comfort the dead, seek blessings or ward off misfortune, has traditionally taken place largely away from public view. Now it is moving onto the stage. The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's "Gut: Whispering Steps," running at the Sejong Center in Seoul through Sunday, takes its central motif from mugamseogi, a practice found in Seoul gut in which the person for whom the ritual is held puts on a shaman's robes and dances spontaneously near its climax. Onstage, the ritual is dismantled and rebuilt in a contemporary language. The shaman's fan and bells become theatrical objects, while obangsaek, the traditional five-direction colors, runs through the costumes and choreography. Contemporary music and cinematic imagery push the ritual into a new artistic form. The production arrives as Korean shamanism is appearing far beyond ritual space. It has driven a box-office blockbuster, supplied the premise for a dating show and helped shape the spiritual world behind the most-watched original title in Netflix history. The convergence raises a question: After K-pop opened one of the world's biggest gateways into Korean culture, could the country's much older spiritual traditions become another? For artistic director Yoon Hye-jung, the attraction of mugamseogi was not primarily supernatural. Yoon said she encountered the practice while researching shamanic dances from five regions of Korea. What caught her attention was the shift in agency. A person may commission a gut in hopes of comfort or good fortune, but in mugamseogi, that person ultimately puts on the shaman's clothes and moves. "If our ancestors had a process of finding themselves through mugamseogi, I thought we also need that process today," Yoon said at a press call Thursday. In popular culture, Korean shamanism is increasingly moving beyond its long association with fortune-telling and superstition. Director Jang Jae-hyun's "Exhuma," centered on two young shamans, a feng shui expert and a mortician, sold 11.91 million tickets in South Korea and became the country's most-watched film of 2024. Its appeal did not stop at Korea's borders. By the end of March 2024, the film had drawn more than 2.23 million moviegoers in Vietnam and 2.3 million in Indonesia, setting records for a Korean film in both markets at the time. The numbers suggested that rituals, spirits and beliefs deeply rooted in Korean culture were not necessarily barriers for audiences elsewhere. Television took another route. SBS reality show "Possessed Love" placed young fortune tellers and spiritual practitioners inside a dating program, mixing romance with saju readings, tarot cards, shamanic practices and questions of fate. Its second season was sold to 62 countries. Then the imagery went fully global through "KPop Demon Hunters." The Netflix animation combines K-pop with Korean folklore and supernatural imagery in the story of three pop stars who fight demons. Since its June 20, 2025 debut, it has amassed more than 600 million views, becoming Netflix's most popular original title ever and the first to remain in its Global Top 10 for 52 consecutive weeks. It entered the Top 10 in all 93 countries where Netflix publishes rankings and reached No. 1 in 76. Those numbers do not mean hundreds of millions of viewers suddenly became interested in Korean shamanism. But they do mean imagery drawing partly on Korea's older spiritual traditions has reached a global audience on an extraordinary scale. Angie Heo, an associate professor of the anthropology and sociology of religion at the University of Chicago, has linked the spectacle of K-pop in the film with the performative character of Korean shamanism. "Shamanism is also a performance. It's dancing, it's a lot of music," Heo said in an interview published by the University of Chicago. She cautioned, however, against equating the film's demon hunters with actual Korean shamans, whose role traditionally involves dealing with restless spirits rather than hunting demons. For some Korean viewers, the film's success has nevertheless changed the scale at which they imagine such stories can travel. Jeong Je-hyeon, a 36-year-old office worker in northern Gyeonggi Province, said Korean occult films including "The Priests," "The Wailing," "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" and "Exhuma" gradually drew him into the genre. "It no longer feels like movies such as 'Exhuma' are the ones introducing Korean shamanism or occult culture to the world," Jeong told AJP. "After 'KPop Demon Hunters' became such a big hit, it almost feels like it is now leading the way in introducing Korean occult stories overseas." "I don't think Korean shamanism is any less compelling than zombies or jiangshi," he added. "The stories themselves are strong and they have a clear narrative arc. I think they could go much further." Still, a string of successful productions does not establish the arrival of a new genre called "K-shamanism." K-pop is an identifiable commercial industry backed by entertainment companies, training systems, distribution networks and global fandoms. Korean shamanism, by contrast, is a living religious and folk tradition with regional variations that cannot be reduced to demons, colorful costumes or supernatural spectacle. What appears to be happening instead is that shamanism is becoming a cultural vocabulary translated into different forms — an occult mystery in "Exhuma," a reality-TV premise in "Possessed Love," a pop fantasy in "KPop Demon Hunters" and now contemporary dance in "Gut: Whispering Steps." Yoon said the dance company deliberately avoided reproducing an actual gut. Instead, it selected recognizable elements including obangsaek, the shaman's fan and bells, and amplified them for the stage. The point, she said, was not to celebrate shamanism as a belief system. It was to recognize gut as part of the lives of earlier generations and use fragments of that tradition to tell a story for audiences today. That tension between tradition and reinvention may help explain why gut has become fertile material for contemporary creators. The ritual already contains music, dance, costumes, storytelling and collective performance. Its themes of grief, fortune, death, healing and release can travel even when audiences know little about the tradition behind them. But the further shamanic imagery moves from the ritual itself, the greater the risk that a complex living tradition is flattened into bright robes, demons and spectacle. For decades, K-pop gave audiences abroad a distinctly modern entry point into South Korea. Now Korean creators are increasingly looking in the opposite direction — toward rituals, spirits and worldviews that existed long before K-pop. Whether that eventually becomes something recognizable as "K-shamanism" remains an open question. What is already visible is the translation: a door widened by K-pop is now leading some audiences deeper into Korea's cultural past. AJP Takeaways - Korean shamanism is moving beyond ritual spaces into mainstream culture, appearing in films, reality TV, animation and contemporary dance. - "Exhuma" drew 11.91 million admissions in South Korea, while "Possessed Love" was sold to 62 countries, showing that shamanic themes can travel across formats and markets. - Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" pushed Korean supernatural imagery onto a far larger global stage, surpassing 600 million views and reaching the Top 10 in all 93 markets tracked by Netflix. 2026-09-11 16:28:53
Most New Stocks This Year Trade Below Initial Offering Price Approximately 80% of the 28 new stocks that debuted on the Korean stock market this year are trading below their initial offering prices. Many stocks that surged on their first day have since given back most of their gains, indicating that initial popularity has not translated into sustained price increases.According to the Korea Exchange and the financial investment industry, as of September 11, 22 out of the 28 newly listed companies on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets (78.6%) are trading below their offering prices. Only six companies (21.4%) are above their initial prices, excluding SPACs and REITs from the count.The average return of these 28 stocks compared to their offering prices is -19.1%. However, this figure shows some improvement compared to the end of August, when 23 out of 27 listed companies (85.2%) were below their offering prices, with an average return of -26.19%. The recent uptick in September, driven by some stocks rebounding and the new listing of Sky Labs, has contributed to this change.The performance of individual stocks has varied significantly. Sky Labs, which debuted on September 4 with an offering price of 10,000 won, closed at 28,150 won, marking a 181.5% increase. Cosmo Robotics also saw a rise from its offering price of 6,000 won to 12,460 won, a 107.7% increase. Other companies like MakinaRax, Ingenia Therapeutics, Mad Up, and Axvis also traded above their offering prices.In contrast, Peace Peace Studio has seen its stock drop 73.4% from its offering price of 21,500 won to 5,710 won. Hanpass fell 73.1% from its offering price of 19,000 won to 5,120 won, while StradVision dropped 70.3% from its offering price of 12,000 won to 3,560 won.When comparing current prices to their first-day closing prices, the disparity is even more pronounced. Of the 28 companies that went public this year, 20 had closing prices above their offering prices on their first day, but 14 of those have since fallen below their offering prices. This suggests that initial surges in stock prices have not led to long-term gains.Even stocks that recorded a so-called 'double' on their first day are not immune. ESTeem, which went public in March at an offering price of 8,500 won, peaked at 34,000 won on its first day but has since dropped to 3,115 won, a 63.4% decline from its offering price. IM BioLogics also saw its stock rise from an offering price of 26,000 won to 104,000 won on its first day, but it has since fallen to 14,930 won, 42.6% below its initial price.Conversely, Cosmo Robotics and MakinaRax, which also recorded a 'double' on their first day, have given back some of their gains but remain above their offering prices. This indicates a significant divergence in stock performance among companies that initially experienced similar price surges.The initial excitement during the offering phase has not guaranteed returns post-listing. There have been several instances where companies that achieved high competition rates during institutional demand forecasts and general subscriptions, or set their offering prices at the upper end of the desired range, are now trading below their offering prices.A securities industry official noted, "The initial stock price is heavily influenced by limited supply and short-term demand, making it difficult to assess a company's value based solely on first-day performance." The official added, "After listing, factors such as earnings, growth potential, and the company's value determined during the offering phase become more reflective in stock prices, so it is essential to evaluate a company's fundamentals rather than just the success of the offering."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:28:00
Mokpo City Urges Residents to Check Environmental Improvement Fee Payment Deadline Mokpo City has announced that it will impose the 2026 second installment of the environmental improvement fee on diesel vehicles manufactured before June 30, 2012, and urges residents to make payments by the 30th.The environmental improvement fee is a system designed to hold polluters accountable for the costs associated with pollution treatment and environmental enhancement, assessed twice a year in March and September.The fee for this installment is calculated based on the vehicle ownership period from January 1 to June 30 of this year.If ownership changes occur during this period, such as through sale or scrapping, the fee will be prorated based on the actual ownership duration.Notably, the environmental improvement fee operates on a post-payment basis, meaning that even if a vehicle has been sold or scrapped, additional fees may still be charged for the previous ownership period. Residents who receive a notice should be aware of this possibility.Wi Jun-cheol, head of the Climate and Environment Division in Mokpo City, stated, “There may be instances where individuals believe the environmental improvement fee has been incorrectly assessed after selling or scrapping their vehicle. It is important to first verify the actual assessment period indicated on the notice, as the fee is charged post-payment.”There are various payment methods available, including visits to financial institutions, post offices, and agricultural cooperatives, as well as virtual account transfers, ARS (1422-11), internet Giro, WeTax, and credit card payments.A 3% penalty will be applied for late payments, and failure to pay by the end of the reminder period may result in property seizure and other penalties.Wi emphasized, “The environmental improvement fee is utilized to reduce environmental pollution and create a pleasant living environment. I urge citizens to check the assessment period and payment deadline on their notices to avoid unnecessary penalties.”Additionally, the environmental improvement fee is calculated based on factors such as vehicle engine displacement, model year, and location. For newly registered or deregistered vehicles, the fee is prorated based on the actual registration period. Mokpo City provides detailed information regarding the assessment criteria and payment methods through the Climate and Environment Division's Environmental Policy Team.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:28:00
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Emphasizes Judicial Independence Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae emphasized on September 11 that the judiciary, as an independent state institution under the Constitution, must not be influenced by political power or any undue interference to properly realize the rule of law.Speaking at the 12th annual 'Court Day' ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Cho stated, "The judiciary can fully guarantee the freedoms and rights of the people and realize the rule of law only when it adjudicates neutrally and fairly, free from undue interference or influence from other state institutions, political powers, social forces, or parties involved in litigation."He further elaborated, "Performing this constitutional mission unwaveringly, even in the face of difficulties, is the unchanging duty entrusted to our judiciary, which serves as the last bastion for protecting the fundamental rights of the people."On this occasion of Court Day, he reiterated the significance of the day, stating that the judiciary will exercise its judicial authority correctly solely for the benefit of the people.This emphasis on judicial independence comes amid ongoing tensions with the Blue House regarding the reappointment of Supreme Court justices. Following the retirement of former Justice Noh Tae-ack in March and Justice Lee Heung-gu on September 7, the Supreme Court is currently operating with 12 justices, leaving two positions vacant out of a total of 14.Last month, Cho nominated Judge Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court as Noh's successor, but the Blue House requested a reappointment ten days later, citing a failure to adhere to prior consultation practices. The Supreme Court is expected to announce its position on the Blue House's reappointment request soon.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:28:00
Gwangju Education Office Enhances Complaint Handling Skills The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is conducting practical training to improve the quality of complaint services in schools and enhance the response capabilities of staff.On September 11, the office announced that it held the '2026 Second Half Capacity Building Training for Record Management and Complaint Handling Staff' at the Jeonnam Human Resource Development Center.More than 60 employees responsible for record management and complaint handling from various departments, affiliated organizations, and education support offices participated in the training.The training focused on sharing practical information that staff need to know in managing records and processing complaints, as well as enhancing their on-site response capabilities from the perspective of the complainants.Participants reviewed key practical skills necessary for record management, as well as important considerations in handling complaints through the National Complaint Center and processing information disclosure requests.Training also included communication and conflict resolution skills essential for directly interacting with complainants.The education office invited Hong Jeong-ye, a customer service expert from the Korea Future Education Center, to teach methods for accurately understanding complainants' needs based on listening and empathy, and how to explain complaint details in an easily understandable manner.Particularly, the training addressed response techniques for various situations that may arise in the field, including how to handle unique complaints and conflict situations.The education office plans to continuously enhance the practical capabilities of complaint staff, as the way they explain and respond during phone or in-person interactions can directly impact trust in educational administrative services.Seo Byeong-su, head of the Operations Support Division, stated, “A brief phone call or a single explanation from a staff member can leave a lasting impression of Gwangju Education on the complainant,” adding, “We will listen to the voices from the field and continue to provide necessary support to guide complainants in a simple and friendly manner.”This training not only focused on complaint handling but also covered practical aspects of record management, the National Complaint Center, and processing information disclosure requests, ensuring that staff can effectively respond to various situations that may arise during complaint processing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-11 16:20:00