The Chaebol Returns To The Presidency 1967 [EN]: Chapter 173

173. Taking the Lead

The police took the office staff into custody for questioning, investigating each person individually.

One of the faculty members, who had initially resisted, grew frightened and confessed.

“I created the leaflets under the direction of the Dean of Academic Affairs.”

“A staged event… what about the Molotov cocktails?”

“Those were made externally after a phone call and delivered early in the morning.”

“All under the Dean of Academic Affairs’ orders?”

“The Dean of Academic Affairs gave the orders, but he must have received them from someone else. He’s not the type to plan something like that on his own.”

“Then who was the original instigator?”

“It must have been the President. The Dean of Academic Affairs is the President’s son-in-law. They put an incompetent person in a key position from the start, so he does everything he’s told like a trained dog.”

“Hmm, this isn’t a university; it’s a madhouse!”

The police summoned the President and the Dean of Academic Affairs for questioning, but they made various excuses to avoid appearing.

*

The President lamented as he read the newspaper report about the J University pro-communist fabrication case.

“It’s truly the end of days. How can they try to frame someone as a spy in this day and age!”

During Chairman Wang’s era, the anti-communism movement faced a backlash due to fabricated spy cases like the ‘[redacted] Spy Ring’ and ‘[redacted] Underground Organization,’ leading to the absurd association of pro-North Korean sentiment with progressivism. Aware of this potential for politicization, the President had been vigilant to prevent any such fabrications during his term.

However, when a pro-communist fabrication occurred in such an unexpected place, the President couldn’t help but be outraged.

“Like a mudfish [a bottom-dwelling fish] disgracing the pond, these are the real pro-communist spies.”

The President called the Chief of Staff.

“Find out how the investigation into the J University President is progressing.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“Tell the new Minister of Education to report directly to me after their briefing.”

“Yes!”

“And tell them to thoroughly investigate and report on the state of corruption in private schools, even if it takes time.”

*

Court.

The lawyer for the President of J University argued.

“Refusing to renew a contract professor’s contract is the school’s inherent right. Suing for wrongful dismissal is an unfair measure.”

Professor Park countered.

“There is a professor evaluation system in place, and contracts are only not renewed when evaluations fall short. However, after I protested to the President about corruption in the school, my course assignments were reduced by one-third from the following semester, and I received a contract termination notice at the end of the year. My evaluation scores were in the top tier, yet the school unfairly dismissed me.”

The judge delivered the verdict.

“A teaching position is different from temporary employment. Especially in Professor Park’s case, he had already received unfair treatment from the school before the contract expired. Despite not causing social controversy or failing to meet the professor evaluation standards, the unilateral contract termination notice constitutes wrongful dismissal. Therefore, this court orders reinstatement.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three professors who proved wrongful dismissal were reinstated, but the school’s contract termination notices were upheld for the remaining seven professors.

*

The new Minister of Education reported to the President.

“The President of J University is denying his involvement and delaying his appearance through his lawyer. The investigation is incomplete because he is not cooperating.”

“Shouldn’t every citizen of the Republic of Korea appear before the police to clarify their guilt or innocence? What gives the President the right to refuse investigation?”

“Usually, in cases of corruption in private schools, only the staff members are arrested.”

“Cutting off the tail [sacrificing underlings to protect those in power]….”

“Private school operators jokingly say at drinking parties that the President [of the country] is only for five years, but the Chairman [of the school board] is forever. There are many excellent private schools, but some corrupt ones, like mudfish, are ruining the education system.”

“You seem to know a lot about private schools?”

“The Vice President of the Student Council at J University is my daughter. She was investigated and released in this pro-communist case.”

“Oh, really? Then you must know the inside story better than anyone?”

“That’s right. After talking with my daughter for several days and hearing about the school’s corruption, even I couldn’t help but want to storm the main building.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Private schools that treat the school not as a place of education but as a personal piggy bank for a family are the worst kind of corruption.”

“Hmm, it seems we must declare war on private school corruption this time.”

“Their power isn’t limited to the school; it’s extensively connected to local forces everywhere, so you must be prepared, Your Excellency.”

“Really? Your advice is chilling. Just how much power do they have?”

“Private school teachers and professors are on contract, so if they defy the Chairman, they won’t be seen on campus the following year. Key staff members are all relatives or confidants, making it difficult to uncover internal corruption. The board of directors is controlled by the family, so external directors are useless, and the checks and balances are nonexistent.”

“Hmm, it’s the perfect breeding ground for poisonous mushrooms.”

“In the case of J University, there are allegations that they granted illegal admissions to the children of those in positions of power to win government projects and receive protection from local media companies or members of the National Assembly [South Korea’s legislative branch].”

“Holding their children hostage, in a way.”

“Also, they are said to trade master’s and doctoral degrees. They have no choice but to protect corrupt private schools for fear that their own corruption will be exposed.”

“Good heavens! They offer degrees as bribes to gain leverage and become a gang to protect each other—a complete private school mafia!”

“Moreover, the school enjoys various tax exemptions and privileges, reaping unearned income without paying taxes. With that money, they hold enormous amounts of land, making them local powerhouses. They say manipulating a local member of the National Assembly is a piece of cake. One of the board members of J University is a member of the National Assembly.”

“A corrupt private school under the umbrella of power….”

During Chairman Wang’s era, the issue of private school reform was so tumultuous that the regime was shaken, and the results were always unsatisfactory. Now that I’m facing it, it’s a social evil that is more powerful and deeply rooted than any external enemy.

The President asked.

“According to the data, 40% of high schools and 70% of universities are private. The proportion of private schools is increasing every year. But parents are desperate to send their children to expensive private high schools. What’s the reason?”

“In a word, it’s because of the college entrance rate. Even though tuition is expensive, private high schools have a higher college entrance rate.”

“Hmm, you mean public school teachers are slacking off, and private schools are squeezing their teachers to get students into good universities. It’s all about competitiveness, after all.”

“That’s right.”

“Private institutions evaluate teachers based on college entrance rates, right?”

“That’s right.”

“In other words, if all educational institutions were made public, the level of education would be standardized downward.”

“That’s right.”

The President explained the blueprint for educational reform he had been considering.

“I think the fundamental problem with corrupt private schools is that the management is a family affair within the public function of education. If there’s a conflict of interest between public interest and private gain, corrupt private schools will prioritize the interests of the family. Also, the fundamental problem with public education is the decline in educational competitiveness.”

“That’s an accurate point. Changes in the education system are inevitable, Your Excellency!”

During Chairman Wang’s era, the entrance exam system changed with every regime, but it never succeeded.

Strengthening regular admissions led to the flourishing of private education, and strengthening rolling admissions led to the rampant accumulation of ‘specs’ [qualifications] and ‘daddy’s chances’ [privilege], becoming a never-ending game of whack-a-mole.

Attempts to reform family-run private schools were met with opposition from the vast majority of private educational institutions, leading to social problems due to private school reform turmoil, drifting aimlessly and ending in anticlimax.

Knowing this well, the President presented an alternative.

“I’ll come up with a plan, so review it with experts.”

“What kind of plan is it?”

“Forcibly dissolving private schools is currently impossible because it would paralyze education.”

“That’s right.”

“Regulatory whips alone have significant side effects. The most natural change is to let them be eliminated according to market principles. In other words, if public schools are more competitive than private schools, corrupt private schools will disappear, right?”

“Of course, Your Excellency!”

The new Minister of Education listened to the President’s proposal with keen attention.

A smile slowly spread across the Minister’s face.

“Your Excellency, I believe it’s a truly groundbreaking plan! If the budget can be resolved, it’s entirely feasible.”

“Really? That’s a relief. Still, discuss it with experts and refine it in detail so that it can be applied in the field.”

“I understand, Your Excellency!”

“The opposition from corrupt private schools will be fierce in the future. Respond confidently and clearly admonish them for their wrongdoings.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Excellency!”

“And let’s not announce the reform plan all at once but announce it in stages.”

“What do you mean by ‘in stages’?”

“Policy must be a part of politics. We must respond step by step with thesis, antithesis, and synthesis according to the situation to cope with the opposing forces.”

“Well, I don’t know much about politics, so I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I will do as you command.”

“Hahaha, I like your honesty. Scholars usually pretend to know even when they don’t, but I really like that you frankly admit what you don’t know.”

“I’m sorry.”

“In fact, the one who knows what he doesn’t know is the one who knows the most, hahaha.”

The President took the lead in educational reform, which no previous regime had dared to do.

*

The foundation for educational reform was laid by revising the Labor Standards Act.

The Minister of Labor attended the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and explained the purpose of the proposed bill.

“The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act has played a significant role in reducing income disparities among workers and wealth disparities between the metropolitan area and the provinces by resolving wage discrimination between large and small businesses, regions, and industries. In keeping with that spirit, we are now going further to eliminate discrimination based on academic background.”

“……”

“Currently, the starting salary for high school graduates is about 60% of the starting salary for four-year college graduates. It’s an unfair social practice that one should live in poverty simply because they didn’t go to college. The purpose of this bill is to have high school and college graduates start on equal footing.”

A member of the committee asked.

“College graduates have incurred more expenses for tuition than high school graduates. Wouldn’t it be unfair if they started with the same salary?”

“Whether they are college graduates or high school graduates, companies are completely re-educating new employees for more than a year. Universities don’t provide vocational education but general liberal arts education for those who pass the entrance exam, so academic background isn’t directly linked to a company’s productivity. It only creates discrimination between production workers and management positions for high school and college graduates.”

“Then there’s no reason to go to college, is there?”

“Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees are stages used in research institutes and academia, but productivity is the standard in the workplace. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree holders don’t operate machinery any better. But why should they be paid more just because they have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree?”

“……”

“Currently, there is unequal promotion and hiring, where people are appointed to management positions from the beginning based on their academic background. This is an extension and remnant of a pre-modern academic class society.”

“So, the purpose is to reform social practices.”

“That’s right. If academic background is equivalent to ability, it is sufficiently compensated by proving productivity in the field and being promoted. Hiring someone from the beginning to manage production without proving their productivity is a typical pre-modern discriminatory clause that provides the foundation for classifying academic background.”

“Hmm, so you’re saying you’ll reward people based on ability, not academic background.”

“That’s right.”