The Korean Association of Private University Professors (Sakyoryun) and the Korean Professors' Union, along with 56 other professor organizations, have sharply criticized the current government's higher education policies, labeling them as 'incompetent, shortsighted, and indifferent.' They condemned the Ministry of Education's plan to implement a 'zero tuition' policy for local national universities as a misleading populist measure that threatens the entire higher education ecosystem, calling for a fundamental overhaul of higher education policy that encompasses both national and private institutions.
On the afternoon of September 18, the professor organizations held a joint press conference in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin in Gwanghwamun, stating, "The Lee Jae-myung government's free tuition policy for national universities has three fundamental flaws: incorrect diagnosis, inequity, and a complete reversal of priorities."
In their statement, the professor organizations criticized the Ministry of Education's announcement to use surplus tax revenue from the semiconductor industry to fully fund tuition for local national universities, calling it a 'populist display of administrative generosity' just before the upcoming support for students.
The first flaw they identified is the 'incorrect diagnosis.' They argue that the primary reason young people are leaving their regions is not the burden of tuition but rather the lack of quality jobs and living conditions. They noted that tuition at local national universities is already significantly lower than that of universities in the metropolitan area, suggesting that if tuition were the issue, youth migration would have stopped long ago.
The second flaw is 'inequity and violation of constitutional values.' They assert that it is discriminatory to provide free benefits to only 15% of students attending local national universities while enforcing a tuition freeze on private universities, which accommodate 85% of all university students and have supported national development for over 15 years. This, they argue, directly violates the constitutional principle of equal educational opportunity.
The third flaw is the 'distortion of higher education reform priorities.' They contend that immediate cash handouts are less urgent than necessary reforms, such as legislative adjustments, normalizing per-student higher education costs that are below primary and secondary education levels, increasing investment in graduate research, and improving the treatment of non-tenure-track faculty who are left in conditions akin to urban poverty.
Yoo Won-jun, chairman of Sakyoryun, pointed out specific flaws and contradictions in the policy that were not included in the joint statement. He criticized the lack of public discourse with stakeholders, stating, "There was no minimum consultation process while executing taxpayer money." He added, "If scholarships are to be given to nurture talented individuals, they should be directed to graduate students, who are on the brink of collapse, and if we consider economic equity and regional settlement, supporting students at local vocational colleges would be more appropriate," emphasizing that the current free tuition policy for national universities misses the mark entirely.
Yoo also strongly rebutted the government's claim of fostering 'regionally settled talent.' He argued, "Framing students with the message 'You should never leave this region' is neither educational nor beneficial, as it only creates a damaging stigma. We need to invest boldly in graduate programs and faculty to equip students with the competitiveness to thrive globally, rather than trying to keep them tied to the region."
Yoo expressed deep concern over the bureaucratic control methods of the government that are damaging the entire higher education ecosystem. He stated, "The government, unable to foresee beyond five years, is subjugating universities to short-term industrial policies, like the recent trends in metaverse and coding. The essence of university education is to cultivate foundational skills that allow institutions to survive regardless of changing environments." He warned, "The lifeblood of an ecosystem is its diversity. The government's push for the integration of national universities is leading to a general decline in standards."
He also called for a fundamental innovation in the financial support system for universities. Yoo suggested, "The Ministry of Education is pouring funds into vague projects that lead to 'ambiguous goals, labyrinthine paths, and no results.' Instead, they should provide comprehensive operational funding that can be used where it is needed most, along with transparent evaluations and post-monitoring."
On the same day, the 56 professor organizations urged President Lee Jae-myung to "no longer remain silent on the dysfunction and incompetence in higher education and to make a direct decision and response."
They also formally demanded that the government: 1) enact a 'University Law' that encompasses both national and private institutions for systematic legal and institutional reform; 2) immediately halt impulsive populist policies that incite conflict between national and private universities; 3) completely redesign the universal system for regional balance and university financial support; and 4) significantly improve the treatment of non-tenure-track faculty and increase investment in research infrastructure.
In particular, they raised their voices for the immediate dismissal of the incompetent Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin, who has caused severe confusion in the university sector by pushing through unilateral policies without social consensus. They declared that if their demand for the establishment of an official consultative body with the field is not met, they will mobilize the capabilities of university members nationwide to launch a strong solidarity movement.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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