The Korea Herald

SNU medical school ups humanities education

Jul 23, 2014

Seoul National University said Wednesday it is planning to allow its medical students to take more humanities classes, in a bid to make them more empathetic and attentive and ultimately better doctors.“The primary purpose of our education (program) is to foster doctors who can meet the needs of society,” said professor Lee Seung-hee of the Office of Medical Education at SNU. “For this, we are planning to pick students who have the personality and aptitude to work as a doctor. Then, we will educa
[Newsmaker] Elite school stirs dispute

Jul 22, 2014

A local education office on Tuesday made a move to turn one of its elite high schools into a regular one on Tuesday, hinting at a potential all-out feud between the government and education superintendents over the autonomous private high school system.Dongsan Christian High School, located in Ansan, fell short of standards required for an autonomous private high school, according to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. The GOE sent the report to the Education Ministry, effectively takin
Teachers’ union protests demonstration charges

Jul 16, 2014

A left-leaning teachers’ union filed a petition against the government Wednesday, protesting its decision to press charges against participants of an anti-government rally.The rift between the Education Ministry and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, recently outlawed for a violation of the labor law, has been widening since the latter lost its legal status in June.The Education Ministry recently filed charges against scores of members of the KTU that were in charge of a June rall
Teachers’ union to hold mass rallies

Jul 11, 2014

Korea’s largest progressive group of teachers will stage large-scale rallies demanding that the government restore its recently-revoked legal status, its leaders said in a statement Friday.The leaders clarified that the protests by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, to be staged on Saturday, will focus on chastising the government decision to outlaw the group for a reported infringement of a labor law that bans dismissed teachers from joining trade unions.“Stripping a 15-year-old
University of Utah offers diverse, practical learning for ‘global citizens’

Jul 10, 2014

As the world transforms at breakneck speed, educators across the country are emphasizing the importance of learning through not only books, but also via actual experiences. Officials from the University of Utah said the school mirrors this trend by providing students with learning opportunities through actually exploring the world. “The way we want to brand our university is to imagine, which really focuses on exploring, learning and making a difference,” said Michael Hardman, the chief global o
Will Korea ever have ‘Linsanity’?

Jul 10, 2014

Student-athletes struggle in narrow career options, missing out on many chances they deserve
SNU faces backlash over new president

Jul 9, 2014

Professors at Seoul National University on Tuesday protested the school’s recent appointment of a new president, and urged the board of directors to reveal the selection process.The Association of SNU Professors said if the board turns down their requests, they will hold an emergency meeting to discuss follow-up measures. It would be the first such meeting in 27 years.If the professors decide to push ahead with the meeting, it will be held on July 16.The teaching staff at SNU have been raising q
Education nominee accused of fraud

Jul 7, 2014

A local civic group filed fraud charges against the Education Minister-designate Kim Myung-soo on Monday, and called on authorities to investigate him for misconduct during his days as a professor.The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice accused the 66-year-old of illegally taking government funds for research that was in fact conducted by his students. It added that Kim has received a total of 12.7 million won ($12,573) by taking credit for someone else’s work. Kim is also believed to have
Exit strategy needed for KTU bedlam, Seoul education chief says

Jul 7, 2014

Cho Hi-yeon, the education superintendent for Seoul, speaks during a press conference held Monday at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. (Yonhap)The government needs to end its quarrels with the left-leaning teachers’ union before they lead to an even bigger feud within society, Seoul education chief Cho Hi-yeon said Monday.The controversial Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union has been protesting against the government for recently revoking its legal status. It accused the KTU o
Ministry promises ‘easy’ English tests on college entrance exam

Jul 6, 2014

The English segment of this year’s college entrance exam will be relatively easy for test-takers, the Education Ministry said Sunday. The policy plan, which was announced with other details on the annual Suneung exam, is in keeping with President Park Geun-hye’s goal of lowering the difficulty of English exams to reduce private education expenses for studying the language. In the past, Sunueng tests for English, math and Korean were offered in two difficulty levels. Students who took harder test
[Newsmaker] Nominee's fate hangs in balance

Jul 3, 2014

Education Minister nominee Kim Myung-soo faced yet another allegation of misconduct Thursday, after a series of scandals have already beset the former professor.Kim allegedly received several warnings from the Korea National University of Education for poor class preparation during his tenure there, said Rep. Park Hong-keun of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy. He quoted audit results from the university and the Education Ministry.Education Minister nominee Kim Myung-soo. (Yonhap)“He lacks
Ministry files charges against teachers

Jul 3, 2014

The Education Ministry said Thursday it had filed charges against members of a teachers' union who were in charge of a rally and issued a joint-statement denouncing President Park Geun-hye.The Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union held a rally Friday to protest the recent renouncement of its legal status. The government stripped the union of its legal status, citing a violation of labor law that prohibits dismissed education workers from joining a trade union. The KTU also said in a joint
(Photo News) Train for education

Jul 2, 2014

Children look around a new train equipped with various educational materials at Seoul Station on Thursday. The train, operated by KORAIL, has nine cars designed to offer passengers a chance to play games and hold seminars and video classes while travelling. (Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald)
Incheon cancels hiring of new English teachers

Jul 1, 2014

Foreign nationals looking to teach in Korea recently faced frustration, as it was revealed Tuesday that Incheon’s education office had cancelled the hiring of new native English teachers for the fall semester.The Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education has withdrawn all offers of employment for the fall term of 2014, according to the office of English Program in Korea, the unit in charge of recruiting foreign teachers under the National Institute for International Education.EPIK conducts a scre
Opposition pressures education minister nominee to pull out

Jun 30, 2014

Opposition lawmakers stepped up their offensive Monday against Education Minister-designate Kim Myung-soo, and further accused him of misconduct during his teaching years.“Kim was found to have cheated while writing all four articles that he submitted for promotion in the university,” said Rep. Yoo Eun-hae of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy. “Far from being appointed a minister, we cannot help but question whether he was qualified to be a professor.”The former professor of Korea National