Education Minister Park Soon-ae reads a prepared statement announcing her resignation at the Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Park decided to step down from her ministerial post amid mounting criticism against the ministry's agenda and her drunk-driving record. Yonhap

Departure stirs deep doubts over Yoon's personnel selection

By Ko Dong-hwan

Education Minister Park Soon-ae, whose appointment by President Yoon Suk-yeol last July had provoked fierce criticism from all sides for her lack of experience and history of unethical behavior, stepped down Monday. Her resignation came 34 days after she took the helm of the ministry.

During a press conference held in Seoul, Park took the blame for the latest controversies surrounding her.

"My latest policies were all for the benefit of our country's citizens," said Park at the lobby of the Korea Institute of Educational Facility Safety building in Yeouido, Seoul. "But clearly I fell short of expectations."

Park wrapped up the press conference after the announcement, putting an end to her short but turbulent ministerial tenure.

Many factors contributed to the resignation of Park, a professor of public policy at Seoul National University. But the final nail in the coffin was her drive to lower the legal age to enter elementary schools from six to five. Not only did the initiative forego any screening by lawmakers, it also aroused the massive ire of parents, educators and politicians who opposed it.

Park has become the first among Yoon's cabinet members to resign. She is also the fourth including cabinet minister nominees under the current administration.

Other causes of Park's resignation include her plan to shut down foreign language high schools which traditionally accept only top percentile middle school graduates with the highest academic performance. Allegations of plagiarism and her past drunk-driving record also did not help save her job. It had been weeks since Park became the target of fierce public criticism against her appointment and mounting pressure to resign.

President Yoon Suk-yeol talks to reporters as he arrives at Yongsan presidential office, Monday, ending his one-week vacation. Joint Press Corp