GWANGJU, South Korea—The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education (GMOE) is moving to revoke the registration of a religious alternative educational institution, identified as Institution 'G', which has been embroiled in controversy over historical bias and ideological extremism, including the alleged glorification of South Korea’s first president, Rhee Syngman.

The GMOE announced on December 8 that its Alternative Education Institution Registration and Operation Committee convened on December 4 and passed a resolution to revoke the registration of Institution G. The Education Office plans to finalize the decision following a formal hearing process.

Decisive Factors: Illegal Preschool Operations and Ideological Distortion

The push to cancel the registration is attributed to two major concerns. First is the illegal operation of a preschool curriculum. It was revealed through citizen group scrutiny that Institution G had been conducting early childhood education for children aged six and seven without proper kindergarten licensing. In response, the GMOE issued corrective orders, administrative disposition for facility changes, fines, and subsequently filed a criminal complaint at the end of last month. Operating a kindergarten without authorization is a serious violation under the Early Childhood Education Act, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million Korean Won. Given the severity of this violation, the committee decided to revoke the registration for the illegal preschool facility as well as the institution's elementary and secondary school programs.

Second is the ongoing controversy regarding historical education bias and ideological distortion. The Gwangju Education Civic Coalition (GECC) heavily criticized Institution G for allegedly promoting education biased towards a specific ideology. The criticisms include recommending the film “The Birth of Korea” (건국전쟁), which has been criticized for distorting the Jeju 4·3 Incident, for student viewing, and mandating the book “The Wrath of Rhee Syngman”—written by far-right Protestant figure Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon—as required reading for parents, demanding submission of book reports. Furthermore, the institution was accused of infringing upon the freedom of thought and conscience by requesting faith testimonies and personality assessments from prospective parents and questioning candidates about their political beliefs during the teacher hiring process.

Institution's Defense and Civil Society's Stance

Institution G, which opened in 2016 and currently enrolls about 350 students, issued a statement last month attempting to clarify the issues. Regarding the violation of the Early Childhood Education Act, the institution claimed the issue arose from a “legal vacuum that prevents pre-school children from entering the alternative education system.” However, it also stated that the school is doing its best to comply with the Education Office’s corrective measures.

In defending its historical curriculum against claims of bias, the institution countered that while the GECC only highlighted “The Birth of Korea,” the school had previously shown films related to the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, such as “A Taxi Driver” and “1987: When the Day Comes,” and organized visits to sites like the Kim Gu Memorial Hall and the 5·18 Exhibition Hall to help students develop a “balanced perspective.” The institution insisted that it teaches both the achievements and failures of historical figures like Rhee Syngman and Kim Gu.

Nevertheless, the Gwangju Education Civic Coalition welcomed the GMOE's resolution, calling it a “natural measure to restore the public accountability and credibility of Gwangju education,” given the severity of the problems uncovered. The GECC urged the GMOE to proceed swiftly and responsibly with the follow-up procedures, prioritizing law, principle, and the rights of students.

The GMOE's decision sets a strong precedent that alternative educational institutions, while allowed operational freedom, are subject to strict scrutiny to protect students' educational rights and prevent the erosion of the public nature of historical education. The final revocation status, pending the hearing, is anticipated to have a significant impact on the regional educational landscape.

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