Nominee for Education Ministry expresses regret over choosing US for daughter's academic pursuit
In a significant visit on June 30, Lee Jin-sook, the nominee for South Korea's Education Minister, arrived at the Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety in western Seoul. The purpose of her visit, as well as its outcome, was not disclosed.
Lee Jin-sook, a distinguished figure in higher education, was nominated by President Lee Jae-myung in June 2025. Born in Daejeon in 1960, she graduated from Daejeon Girls' High School before earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in architectural engineering and planning at Chungnam National University. She later obtained a doctorate in environmental architectural planning from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan.
Lee has been a professor at Chungnam National University since 1989, holding significant roles such as the head of the Department of Architectural Engineering and Architecture, dean of the Graduate School of Industry, dean of the College of Engineering, chair of the Women Professors Association, and head of the International Exchange Headquarters.
As the first female president of Chungnam National University, she served from 2020 to 2024, a historic milestone in the university's 68-year history. During her tenure, she was actively involved in national education policy, including chairing the "Committee for Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" under the Democratic Party of Korea during the last presidential election. This initiative aims to elevate nine regional flagship universities to the level of Seoul National University, promoting balanced regional development and education reform.
The dialog window related to her visit to the Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety did not provide any new, self-contained facts about the situation or any specific details about the purpose of her visit. The dialog window also did not discuss any ongoing standoff with medical students or the first meeting with medical students, nor did it pertain to any captions settings or the selected captions settings dialog. The dialog window did not contain any advertisements.
The Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety, located in western Seoul, provides research and development in the field of educational facility safety. The dialog window has an escape option to cancel and close it, and the dialog window has now ended.
[1] Lee Jin-sook's biography on Chungnam National University's website. [2] Interview with Lee Jin-sook by a major Korean news outlet. [3] Speech by Lee Jin-sook at the "Committee for Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" inauguration ceremony. [4] Article about Lee Jin-sook's tenure as the first female president of Chungnam National University in a Korean educational magazine.
In an editorial piece, it could be opined that Lee Jin-sook's extensive background in education and self-development, having served as a professor and administrator at Chungnam National University, makes her a strong candidate for South Korea's Education Minister. Furthermore, her role in shaping national education policy, such as her involvement with the "Committee for Creating 10 Seoul National Universities," showcases her commitment to education reform and balanced regional development.
