Jung Keun-sik wins second term as Seoul Superintendent of Education, vows to bolster teacher authority and student well-being

Jung Keun-sik has won a second term as the Seoul Superintendent of Education, reinforcing the progressive bloc's dominance in the city's education leadership. The incumbent secured victory over conservative challenger Cho Jon-hyuk by a margin of 7.22 percentage points, with 30.49% of the vote compared to Cho's 23.27% in a race where 94.9% of ballots were counted.

This win marks the progressive camp's fifth consecutive victory in the Seoul Superintendent of Education elections, a streak that began in 2014. The result signifies a continued mandate for progressive educational policies in the South Korean capital.

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Many are saying that more tangible and certain measures to strengthen teacher authority are needed. Creating an educational environment where teachers can teach without worry is one of our top priorities.

Looking ahead to his second term, Jung emphasized his commitment to building upon the policies of his first term, particularly focusing on strengthening teacher authority and enhancing student mental health initiatives. He acknowledged that despite previous efforts, teachers may not have fully felt the impact of these policies.

"Many are saying that more tangible and certain measures to strengthen teacher authority are needed," Jung stated. "Creating an educational environment where teachers can teach without worry is one of our top priorities." He also highlighted the urgent need to reduce instances of extreme psychological distress among Seoul's students.

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This year, it is extremely important and urgent to shift towards reducing extreme psychological distress among Seoul students.