Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin answers lawmakers' questions at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Education Committee on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin answers lawmakers' questions at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Education Committee on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin apologized again Wednesday over conduct during a local school board election that could be seen as backing a specific candidate, pledging not to repeat even actions that might invite misunderstanding.

Choi made the remarks at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Education Committee, where lawmakers raised concerns that his involvement with a candidate in the Sejong superintendent election may have violated his duty to remain politically neutral.

The controversy began when Choi liked a Facebook post on May 28 supporting candidate Im Jeon-su and left a comment reading "You are wonderful. Thank you," along with a heart emoji. The post was written by a figure who lost to Im in a progressive-bloc primary for the Sejong superintendent race and publicly declared support for Im. As the backlash grew, Choi deleted the comment.

Earlier, in April, Choi had attended the opening of Im's campaign office, drawing criticism that he was backing a specific candidate. At the time, he said he regretted "causing unnecessary controversy."

People Power Party lawmaker Seo Beom-su raised a fairness concern at Wednesday's session, saying rank-and-file teachers are reported to prosecutors or police by the National Election Commission for leaving election-related comments, while the minister has been repeating similar conduct. Seo also cited criticism from a teachers' organization that described the case as "the first instance of a sitting education minister directly intervening in a superintendent election."

Choi said he had consulted the National Election Commission before attending the campaign office opening and went only after confirming the visit did not violate its guidelines. "Even so, I expressed regret because there was room for some misunderstanding," he said.

He added that he had praised someone for accepting the outcome of a candidate unification process, and that at the time he did not think the action would be politically misread.

Education Committee Chair Kim Hee-jeong of the People Power Party then pointed out that Choi's answer appeared to contradict the Education Ministry's earlier explanation, which had stated that the comment was deleted because it was judged to have been inappropriate.

"You are answering as though others simply misunderstood you on their own, and I want to confirm whether that represents a retreat from the ministry's previous position," Kim said.

In response, Choi said he would not repeat even actions that might invite misunderstanding. "I consider it inappropriate in that it provided grounds for controversy, and that is also why I deleted it at the time. I find it deeply regrettable," he said, offering another apology.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party has announced plans to file a complaint against Choi, arguing that his social media activity violated his duty of political neutrality. The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations has also called for his resignation, saying the situation amounted to "a referee who is supposed to be impartial taking sides with a specific player."


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