Lee Jin-sook, the Deputy Prime Minister and nominee for the Ministry of Education, said regarding the suspicion of violating the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in the process of sending her second daughter abroad for early study, "I was not aware of the relevant regulations at that time."
The nominee said through the Ministry of Education personnel hearing preparation group, "I feel regretful that the parts where rules were violated do not meet the expectations of the public."
Previously, allegations were raised that the nominee violated the 'compulsory education' regulations while sending her children abroad for early study.
According to the office of Representative Kim Min-jeon of the People Power Party, the nominee's second daughter, Ms. A (33), moved to the United States in 2007 when she was in the 3rd year of middle school. However, education until middle school is compulsory. Therefore, sending Ms. A, who was in 3rd year of middle school, abroad for study is a violation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act states in Article 13 that all citizens must ensure that their children or minors can attend school until they graduate from middle school. Violating this results in fines of up to 1 million won.
Additionally, there are criticisms that the nominee violated the 'regulations on studying abroad,' a subordinate regulation under the current Elementary and Secondary Education Act during her second daughter's early study abroad process. According to Article 5 of the regulations at that time, both the children and parents must leave the country for more than a year for residency purposes abroad, and the children who are in elementary or middle school must leave for the purpose of living together.
However, in 2007, both the nominee and her spouse were employed as professors at domestic universities. Both of them remained in Korea. The Ministry of Education personnel hearing preparation group stated, "The parents did not accompany the nominee's daughter during her study abroad in the United States after she completed the first semester of 3rd year middle school in Korea," and added, "The content related to the study abroad is factual." However, there are no separate penalties for this violation.
The nominee is expected to clarify these allegations during the National Assembly personnel confirmation hearing on the 16th.
Meanwhile, Ms. A is known to have completed her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees all in the United States after graduating from a high school there, and is currently pursuing post-doctoral studies.