
Free high school education to be funded locally: government
Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok exercised his veto power Tuesday to reject an amendment that would extend government subsidies for free high school education.
The bill, led by the opposition, sought to extend temporary state financial support for free high school education by three years to Dec. 31, 2027. The vetoed amendment to the Local Education Subsidy Act had been passed by the opposition-led National Assembly on Dec. 31.
South Korea provides free education to all elementary and middle school students. It has provided free education for high school students temporarily for five years since 2019.
Under the existing funding structure, the central government and local education offices each cover 47.5 percent of the costs, with local governments contributing the remaining 5 percent. This cost-sharing model was set to expire at the end of 2024.
During the Cabinet meeting, Choi said he was concerned about increasing the financial burden on taxpayers. "If the government continues to shoulder excessive additional costs, it will inevitably escalate the financial pressure on the public," he stated.
Choi further justified his veto by arguing that alternative proposals to reduce state funding for public high school education over the three-year extension had been dismissed without adequate discussion. "For efficient fiscal management in a constrained financial environment, it is more reasonable to maximize the use of local education finances," he said.
The Education Ministry assured that the veto would not result in additional costs for students and parents, emphasizing that free education would continue under local funding.
The opposition and provincial education offices, however, said that the growing financial burden necessitates continued support from the central government. Continuing the state subsidies is crucial to preventing budget shortfalls in regional education systems, they said.
Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik strongly condemned Choi's decision, calling it an abandonment of the government's responsibilities to public education.
"Shifting the entire financial burden onto local education budgets amounts to the government neglecting its educational responsibilities."
Jeong warned that if the amendment is not enacted, Seoul’s education system will face severe financial strain. "Without the bill, Seoul will need to cover an additional 185 billion won ($126 million) annually, previously funded by the state and local governments," he explained.
He further cautioned that this financial burden would force the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to cut critical spending. "The worsening financial situation could lead to budget cuts in school facility improvements and student safety programs, directly impacting the quality of education for Seoul students," Jeong said.
With the bill now returned to the National Assembly, lawmakers must decide whether to revise the bill or attempt to override the veto. Overriding a presidential veto requires the approval of two-thirds of the lawmakers present, a challenging threshold that may reignite intense political debate.
The veto is the third by Choi since he became acting president on Dec. 27, following the impeachment of then-acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. He previously vetoed two special counsel bills related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law and allegations surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee.