Debate arises over whether academic background is factor of discrimination
Rep. Jang Hye-young of the minor opposition Justice Party, right, asks questions related to the anti-discrimination law she proposed last year to Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae, left, during an interpellation session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Jang criticized the education ministry's view that seeks to exclude discrimination based on one's academic background in the law. Captured from National Assembly's video minutes
By Jung Da-min
Debate has arisen over whether a person's academic background should be considered as a discriminatory factor, and if any such discrimination should be banned under law.
The issue came to light last week when the Ministry of Education submitted an opinion to the National Assembly and Ministry of Justice regarding a bill on the promulgation on an anti-discrimination law. In recent years, the liberal bloc has been promoting the enactment of a law to prevent discrimination based on gender, disability, age, language, country of origin, sexual orientation, physical condition, academic background or any other reason.
Minor opposition Justice Party Rep. Jang Hye-young, who proposed the bill, said the education ministry was seeking to exclude academic background as a discrimination category based on the opinion that it was not innately determined ― unlike gender, nationality or disability ― but was the result of individual choices and effort.
Jang raised the issue of the inappropriateness of the ministry's move at a National Assembly session, Thursday, while addressing Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae.
“When it comes to a person's academic background, a more essential factor than individual effort is the (financial or other) situation and environment the person is in,” Jang said. “The Ministry of Education, which is aware of the impact of environment on academic achievement, and has an obligation to improve it, should be strongly criticized for sending an inappropriate review that states academic background is simply a matter of effort.”
Other members of the Justice Party, which has been strongly promoting the anti-discrimination law, agreed saying that people experience a gap of academic opportunity from a very young age, as some are given more opportunities than others based on their family's wealth.
Kang Min-jin, center, head of the minor opposition Justice Party's youth chapter, speaks during a press conference in front of the National Assembly, Friday, to condemn the education ministry's opinion that academic background should not be considered as one of the discriminatory factors in a proposed anti-discrimination law. Courtesy of Justice Party
"Some attend English kindergartens and enjoy the benefits of private education and study abroad. When it comes to education, having more opportunities thanks to rich parents occurs routinely not only in the illegal realm, but also in the very legal realm, as some wealthy parents are able to focus on educating their children, using their social influence and networks," said Kang Min-jin, head of the Justice Party's youth chapter, during a press conference last Friday at the National Assembly.
The issue of a fair education system has been at the center of politics here in recent years, with young people voicing criticism against politicians involved in scandals in which they have used their influence to provide their children with preferential educational opportunities or other “options” to ensure their acceptance into top universities.
"There are young people who can focus on their studies without having to work part-time, and there are others who cannot. It is said that academic achievement is a result of individuals studying hard, but in the reality we live in, opportunities and the ability to enjoy such opportunities are unequal," Kang said.
Online users showed a mixed response on the matter.
Some said that legislating against discrimination based on an individual's academic background could result in another form of discrimination against those who worked hard to earn good results. But others argue that, as young people are given different opportunities depending on their parents' financial ability, discrimination based on academic background should be addressed.