"Study More Budget," Lee Jae-jeong Lashes Out at Nam Kyung-pil

Lee Jae-jeong, Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education at the center of the Nuri Curriculum budget controversy, has repeatedly directed sharp criticism at the Education Ministry and Gyeonggi Province.

On the 12th, Superintendent Lee visited the Gyeonggi Province Office of Education's press room and said, "Is the Education Ministry for the Nuri Curriculum? What are you telling us to do about elementary, middle, and high school education? Before the Nuri Curriculum, the fiscal situation for elementary, middle, and high school education is in fundamental crisis," reiterating his position.

Toward the Education Ministry, which pressured provincial and local education offices through a budget analysis result released the previous day, he said, "Why don't you just change the name to the 'Nuri Education Ministry' at this point?" He criticized the Education Ministry for going all-in on the Nuri Curriculum while turning a blind eye to the fiscal crisis in elementary, middle, and high school public education.

Regarding Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil's proposal to provide Nuri Curriculum budget as education cooperation project funds, he expressed what amounted to a rejection using the indirect yet blunt expression, "I'm telling him to study budget a bit more."

On the previous day, Gyeonggi Province presented in its 'Nuri Curriculum Budget Support Plan' a first option under which the province would support the education office with comprehensive education cooperation project funds, with the premise that "this type of budget arrangement requires the superintendent's intention."

The province explained that if the superintendent does not accept the first option, it can pursue a second option of directly transferring funds to cities and counties.

Superintendent Lee directed criticism and sarcasm at Governor Nam that went beyond feelings of disappointment as an "education alliance" partner, with an elevated voice.

The superintendent said, "I have never criticized Governor Nam until now. But (you say I'm) using the Nuri Curriculum politically...so what benefit is there for me? Saying 'if the government can't do it, Gyeonggi Province will do everything' is rather a political statement."

He added, "The provincial council and I have a coalition alliance and appointed an integrated vice governor, and this task (Nuri Curriculum) is precisely what an integrated vice governor should handle."

When asked about the Democratic Party's formation of a special committee on the Nuri Curriculum and the move to appoint former Education Superintendent Kim Sang-gon as its chairperson, he answered, "It's a bit late, but it's a situation where you have to grab at straws."