Minister Lee Jin-sook, the candidate for the Ministry of Education, arrives at the preparation office for the confirmation hearing established at the Korea Educational Facility Safety Agency in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th, responding to questions from reporters. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

Lee Jae-myung's first nominee for Minister of Education, former Chungnam National University President Lee Jin-sook, said on the 30th, "I believe the reason the President called me from the region is to realize balanced national development through education."

On the same day, the nominee stated her feelings about being nominated as Minister of Education while starting her first day at the office of the personnel verification preparation team set up at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Agency in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul.

Wearing a navy suit and white shirt, holding a black bag in one hand, she said in front of reporters that day, "I stand here with a heavy heart and a strong sense of responsibility," adding, "I believe that education in the new government should properly cultivate future talent based on change and innovation."

Responding to a reporter's question about whether the ‘plan to create 10 Seoul National Universities is an investment centered on local national universities,’ the nominee said, "It is important to create a structure that enables not only local national universities but also national central universities and regional private universities to grow together," and emphasized, "Additionally, we should carefully develop this while gathering opinions and communicating with universities and local governments."

The policy to create 10 Seoul National Universities is Lee Jae-myung's key educational promise. It aims to nurture nine regional national universities to the level of Seoul National University, achieving balanced national development and higher education reform. The nominee is known to have proposed this policy to President Lee.

In response to a reporter's question stating that the private education market is nearing 30 trillion won and overheated, the nominee said, "Strengthening public education to enhance trust in it, and creating excellent prestigious universities in the regions like the plan to create 10 Seoul National Universities, might help reduce the craze for private education."

In response to a query about how her background as a university president might lead to a lack of expertise in early childhood and elementary and secondary education, she stated, "We need a continuous life-cycle system from early childhood to higher education," and added, "I will do my best to ensure that the expertise in higher education is utilized while also gathering opinions from experts in early childhood and elementary and secondary education so that the new policies pursued by the new government can be implemented effectively."

When asked by reporters about the policies on grade retention and expulsion of medical students, as well as the academic flexibility policy aimed at normalizing medical education, she acknowledged that, "Students left school due to conflicts in the medical community, and some have returned," adding, "It seems we need to consider the situation and have an opportunity to hear your opinions."

She also responded to a reporter's question regarding the selective introduction of AI textbooks in schools by the end of this year and ongoing issues regarding the status of textbooks, saying, "I understand there have been many discussions in the National Assembly and confusion in the field as well," and stressed, "It seems we need to listen and communicate more."