Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong: "Governor Lee Jae-myung's Proposal Requires Serious Consideration"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong has thrown his support behind Governor Lee Jae-myung.

On the 8th, Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong expressed his views on the so-called "10 million won world travel support pledge" that emerged from a recent business agreement through his SNS.

The superintendent first clarified that "participants at this meeting naturally shared various opinions with each other," emphasizing that the statements were not "pledges" but rather "opinion sharing" through "dialogue."

He continued, "Governor Lee Jae-myung proposed giving approximately 10 million won to those who have not attended university and have not obtained employment, to provide them with an opportunity to develop their capabilities and give them 'courage and hope' and a chance for new challenges—wondering if spending a year traveling overseas with this support might help them gain new strength. One year of university tuition could be used differently; for some people, traveling overseas with that money might actually be more efficient. All participants agreed it was a good idea," supporting Governor Lee's position.

The superintendent founded his perspective on his experience as the founding president of Sungkonghoe University, where he grappled with scholarship systems and the value and meaning of scholarships.

The superintendent concluded by saying, "Before providing startup support funds to those unable to pursue higher education who are troubled about their career paths, isn't it the government's or local government's responsibility to first help them find motivation for their future? Given the increasingly difficult situation due to COVID-19, I believe we must not take Governor Lee Jae-myung's proposal lightly but seriously consider it."

Below is the full text of Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong's SNS post.

One of the concerns I had when establishing Sungkonghoe University as its founding president was how to appropriately distribute scholarships. Since the university's educational principle was to educate different students rather than just producing excellent students, I did not think it was right to distribute scholarships based on academic performance. We naturally discussed this among ourselves and decided to provide scholarships to those who truly needed them, with the amount tailored concretely to provide genuine "help" rather than a fixed amount. In fact, scholarships should encourage and support students facing financial difficulties in continuing their studies with the true meaning of "scholarship."
Recently, the Gyeonggi Province Governor, the Central Regional Employment and Labor Administration Director, and the Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent held consultations and signed a business agreement on "Gyeonggi Province Regional Talent Development Vocational Education Cooperation Project." At this meeting, participants naturally shared various opinions with each other. Governor Lee Jae-myung raised the issue that while students who attend university receive scholarships and various other benefits, young people who cannot attend university and have not obtained employment receive no social benefits. At this meeting, Governor Lee Jae-myung posed the question of whether those unable to attend university and without employment could be given approximately 10 million won to develop their capabilities, receive "courage and hope," and have a chance for new challenges—and whether spending a year traveling overseas with this support might help them gain new strength. I thought this could also be considered a type of scholarship. Using one year of university tuition to travel overseas instead of attending university could actually be more efficient for some people. All participants agreed it was a good idea. In fact, in today's world, it is more meaningful education to help students find their own paths and prepare for them.
The state and society need broader support to give young people courage and hope. If such "scholarship" helps a young person find new motivation, it will produce remarkable results. Rather than viewing "10 million won" simply as money, if society treats such young people—who have never received such consideration—with "respect," wouldn't they be deeply moved by that treatment?
Watching some politicians make the "beautiful" imagination of Governor Lee Jae-myung a political issue, one might understand the political perspective, but the political community must also reflect on how to open paths for young people with uncertain futures. Before providing startup support funds to those unable to pursue higher education who are troubled about their career paths, isn't it the government's or local government's responsibility to first help them find motivation for their future? In a situation made increasingly difficult by COVID-19, I believe we must not take Governor Lee Jae-myung's proposal lightly but seriously consider it.