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North Korean Song Lyrics in Sejong City School Spark Controversy, Reveal broader Education Concerns
A moral class at a middle school in Sejong city, South Korea, utilized lyrics from the North Korean song “Let’s Run to the Future” as dictation material, igniting a political firestorm and exposing deeper systemic issues within the region’s education administration. The incident came to light during a National Assembly education committee audit on october 23rd, prompting swift criticism from lawmakers and raising questions about openness and resource allocation.
The controversy centers on the appropriateness of using material with strong political undertones from North Korea in a classroom setting. People Power Party lawmaker Kim min-jeon voiced strong objections, stating, “It is indeed inappropriate to dictate a North Korean song with strong political propaganda.” Sejong City Deputy Superintendent Cheon Beom-san responded that the material was intended for educational purposes, specifically within a unit on “Understanding North Korea,” but conceded that a decision on public disclosure would follow an internal review.
According to reports,the activity involved students transcribing the lyrics of “Let’s Run to the Future,” a song widely recognized for its pro-regime messaging.This sparked immediate backlash from parents who voiced their concerns on social media platforms. Representative Kim further argued that if the intent was to demonstrate the political nature of North Korean art, comparable South Korean songs should have been presented for comparative analysis.
Deputy Superintendent Cheon explained that the material was used in the second-grade moral curriculum. A request regarding the incident was received “yesterday,” and the office plans to determine whether to release the activity sheet following its internal review. Representative Kim emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “As parents have great concerns, the source and purpose of class materials must be clearly disclosed.”
However, the concerns raised during the audit extended far beyond the classroom controversy. Representative Kim also highlighted a critical shortage of legal counsel to address the escalating issue of school violence in Sejong City. The number of School Violence Countermeasures Review Committee meetings has surged, from 194 in 2021 to 217 as of September of this year, with projections reaching approximately 500 by year-end.
Despite this dramatic increase, the city currently lacks a dedicated lawyer to handle these cases.Deputy Superintendent Cheon attributed this to the resignation of the previous lawyer and five unsuccessful recruitment attempts. He suggested that low salaries may be a contributing factor, and the office is considering adjustments to the rank system. Representative Kim questioned the sincerity of these efforts, noting a lack of public announcements regarding recruitment drives.
Further compounding the challenges, Sejong City faces the highest strike rate for dedicated care workers in the country, exacerbated by the expansion of the Neulbom school program – an after-school care initiative. Deputy Superintendent Cheon stated that the office is attempting to alleviate the increased workload by hiring additional care directors and school administrators, and forming a task force to explore improved treatment options for care managers.
The audit also revealed that Sejong City has the highest rate of non-implementation of regular school meals nationwide. Representative Kim expressed concern over potential disruptions to students during a planned general strike on November 21st. Deputy Superintendent Cheon assured that contingency plans, including the provision of packed lunches, are being developed in case negotiations with striking workers fail.
This confluence of issues – the controversial classroom material, the surge in school violence, the childcare worker shortage, and the looming school meal strike – underscores
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