The Role and Tasks of Lee Jin-sook, the Minister of Education Candidate in the Lee Jae-myung Government

Introduction – Background and Significance of Candidate Nomination

On June 29, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung officially nominated Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as the Minister of Education and candidate for Vice Minister of Social Affairs. This nominee is the first female president of Chungnam National University and is known for her significant contributions in the fields of science and technology, particularly in her region. The nomination holds symbolic significance beyond a simple appointment, as it encompasses the three areas of 'local,' 'female,' and 'science and engineering,' which have been relatively marginalized in the education sector. Currently, South Korean education is facing structural challenges, including the crisis of regional extinction due to concentration in the metropolitan area, the polarization of academic performance caused by heated entrance exam competition, and the widening gap between universities. There is a growing recognition of the urgent need for balanced distribution of educational resources, particularly in strengthening the role of regional national universities, and this nominee is regarded as someone who embodies this contemporary demand.

Dual Experience in Academia and Administration

Candidate Jin Suk has served as a professor in the Department of Architecture at Chungnam National University since 1989, holding positions such as department head, dean of the College of Engineering, head of the Graduate School of Industry, and director of the International Affairs Office. In 2020, she was elected as the first female president of Chungnam National University and the first president from her alma mater, serving until 2024. During her tenure as president, she led various innovations such as expanding campus infrastructure, enhancing regionally linked research, and establishing scholarship programs, successfully securing government financial support amounting to approximately 1.2 trillion won. Additionally, she initiated discussions on the integration between Chungnam National University and Hanbat National University, paving the way for innovation in national universities. She also has abundant experience in policy-related fields, including serving as the president of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, the National Architectural Policy Committee, and the Council of Presidents of National and Public Universities. Based on her multidimensional experience in practice, consultation, and policy design, she has demonstrated the capacity for policy implementation.

Educational Philosophy - Structural Publicness and Regional Balance

This candidate has consistently maintained the philosophy that "education is at the center of social transformation." In particular, under the belief that "the educational infrastructure at the level of Seoul National University should be expanded nationwide," he presents a structural balance model that is not only about physical investment but also linked to regional industries. He defines education as a core public good of the state and has made it clear that the education budget is a national responsibility. His position that substantial educational reform is impossible without financial input demonstrates his policy consistency.

Practical capabilities for the promise of 'Creating 10 Seoul National Universities'

The candidate Jin Sook is the person who planned and designed the core education pledge of President Lee Jae-myung, which is the strategy of 'creating 10 Seoul National Universities.' He focused on designing a 'cyclical and shared system' not merely by adding prestigious universities, but through inter-university exchanges, shared infrastructure, and connections with local industries. This pledge has already been a matter of long-term discussions centered around regional key national universities and provincial education offices, emphasizing that there is strong continuity in practical efforts and a solid policy foundation for its realization. He declared during a press conference that this strategy is a structural reform with a dual goal of "reducing exam competition and establishing a foundation for creative education."

Expectations and Tasks

The political and educational circles are evaluating this candidate as 'a policy-oriented individual who possesses both expertise and practicality.' He is a person who has experienced a series of policy-related tasks from designing presidential campaign pledges to budget coordination and stakeholder management, leading to high expectations for his policy promotion capabilities. However, during the confirmation hearing process, not only moral integrity will be verified, but also strategies for securing large-scale budgets, cooperation systems with local universities and industries, and specific implementation plans to address the education gap between the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas are expected to be scrutinized in detail. In particular, the financial mechanisms for realizing the pledges, the performance evaluation systems, and the feasibility of collaborating models among key universities will be core verification targets.

Conclusion - Future Challenges and Policy Outlook

Candidate Jin Sook is facing two structural challenges of 'restoring the public nature' of education in South Korea and 'regional balance' simultaneously. His philosophy and experience are certainly enough to raise expectations, but the success of policies ultimately depends on concrete execution capabilities. First, the feasibility of the pledge to create ten Seoul National Universities will hinge on securing initial funding and developing an effective execution roadmap. Issues such as obtaining National Assembly consent regarding an estimated budget of 15 trillion won, fiscal adjustments between central and local governments, and setting project priorities are emerging as urgent challenges. Additionally, establishing a practical governance system that can institutionally support a 'circular and shared collaboration model' involving local universities and the industry is required. This is a high-level challenge that encompasses the formation of trust and coordination skills among stakeholders, as well as political communication capabilities. Academics and civil society are paying attention to whether the pledges and vision that Candidate Jin Sook has pursued can operate as a feasible and sustainable structure rather than merely serving as political symbols. Ultimately, the key point to watch will be whether he can lead a paradigm shift in national education policy as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and whether he can harmoniously implement the practicality and public nature of policies.