[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 41, No. 3] 56.2% Oppose MB's Educational Policy Direction

[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 41] Table of Contents

[1] Key Issue of the First Year in Office: Perception of "Economy" as a Major Issue

[2] What Should Be the Ideological Stance of the Lee Myung-bak Administration in its Second Year?

[3] Public Opinion Trends on Key Issues

[4] Assessment and Outlook for the Lee Myung-bak Administration Entering its Second Year

Public Opinion Trends on Key Issues

Interpretations of Major Social Issues in South Korea Deepen Along Political Lines

- It is problematic when diverse differences in opinion escalate into ideological and political conflict rather than competing in a policy-based, rational manner.

• Method of the National Assessment of Academic Achievement

Q: Regarding the National Assessment of Academic Achievement conducted for 6th graders, 9th graders, and 10th graders, which of the following methods do you think is better?

    ① The current method, where all students are assessed and the results are publicized.

    ② The previous method, where a portion of students were assessed and the results were not publicized.

□ 52.0% Prefer the Current Method, 42.1% Prefer the Previous Method

□ The higher the academic achievement level and the older the age, the higher the preference for the current method.

□ Among the parent generation, men in their 30s and 40s preferred the previous method, while women in their 40s preferred the current method.

A majority of the public, 52.0%, expressed a preference for the "current method of assessing all students and publicizing the results" for the National Assessment of Academic Achievement, the results of which were released on February 16th. In contrast, 42.1% preferred the "previous method of assessing a portion of students and not publicizing the results." Undecided/No response accounted for 5.8%.

[Figure 10] Preference for National Assessment of Academic Achievement and Public Disclosure Method (%)

Examining the survey results by age, academic background, household income, and region of residence reveals certain trends. Firstly, by age group, 54.0% of those in their 30s preferred the previous method, a difference of 13.5 percentage points (P) higher than the 40.5% who preferred the current method. Conversely, among those aged 50 and above, preference for the current method reached 60.6%, significantly exceeding the 31.1% preference for the previous method.



Particularly noteworthy is the 40s female demographic. Among these women, who are likely to have children in middle or high school, the proportion preferring the current method was 61.5%. Compared to the response rates for the current method among 40s men (42.1%), 30s women (43.4%), and 30s men (37.6%), the response rate for 40s women is notably higher. In terms of preferring the previous method, the response rate for 40s women was 32.6%, significantly lower than that of 40s men (50.1%), 30s women (53.4%), and 30s men (54.6%). This can be understood as a reflection of the characteristics of 40s women, who are inevitably sensitive to their children's academic performance.



By academic background, the current method was preferred across all strata. However, the preference for the previous method relatively increased with higher academic attainment (28.8% for middle school or below, 42.5% for high school graduates, and 46.0% for college students or above).

[Figure 11] Attitudes Toward National Assessment of Academic Achievement and Public Disclosure Method by Age (30s-40s) and Gender

[Table 2] Stance on National Assessment of Academic Achievement Method (%)

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• Stance on Educational Policy Direction Regarding "Competition"

Q: Regarding the government's educational policies, which of the following two statements is your opinion slightly closer to?

    ① Support the government's policies as they enhance students' abilities through appropriate competition.

    ② Oppose the government's policies as they excessively encourage competition and increase students' burden.

□ 41.4% Support the Lee Myung-bak Administration's Educational Policy Direction Regarding "Competition", 56.2% Oppose.

□ Opposition is higher across all age groups except those 50 and above.

□ The higher the academic background, the less desire for excessive academic competition.

More citizens expressed a negative stance on the Lee Myung-bak administration's educational policies related to "competition." While 41.4% supported the policies, stating they "enhance students' abilities through appropriate competition," 56.2% opposed them, arguing they "excessively encourage competition and increase students' burden." (Undecided/No response: 2.4%) This outcome reflects the perception that while appropriate competition is necessary for improving students' abilities, the current administration's educational policies are inducing excessive competition.

[Figure 12] Support/Opposition for Educational Policies Related to "Competition" (%)

Examining the survey results by age group, negative opinions on the Lee Myung-bak administration's educational policies related to "competition" are predominantly held by those in their 30s and 40s. In the 30s, 78.4% opposed educational policies that foster excessive competition, and in the 40s, this figure was 61.4%. Conversely, among those aged 50 and above, the proportion supporting the need for improving students' abilities through competition was high at 61.9%. For those aged 50 and above, opposition to the Lee Myung-bak administration's "competition"-related educational policies was only 34.0%.

A relatively clear difference in stance on the Lee Myung-bak administration's "competition"-related educational policies was also observed by academic background. Among those with a middle school education or below, support for the government's policies was high at 56.1%. However, this figure decreased to 43.3% for high school graduates and 34.7% for those with an associate's degree or higher.

Based on monthly household income, support for the policies was higher among the low-income bracket (under 1 million KRW) at 49.7% compared to opposition at 41.5%. In the 1.01-2 million KRW income bracket, support was 47.7% and opposition was 50.4%, showing a close split. However, opposition was more prevalent among income groups above 2 million KRW. In the 2.01-3 million KRW income bracket, opposition was 66.2%. In the 3.01-4 million KRW income bracket and the high-income bracket (over 4 million KRW), opposition to the Lee Myung-bak administration's educational policies related to "competition" was 59.0%.

[Table 3] Stance on Educational Policies Related to "Competition" (%)

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• Court ruling of guilty for the boycott movement against Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Dong-A Ilbo

Q. Last year, the court ruled guilty for individuals who participated in a boycott movement against companies that advertised in Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Dong-A Ilbo during the candlelight protests. What is your opinion on the court's decision?

① I believe it was a correct decision.

② I believe it was an incorrect decision.

□ 31% believe it was a correct decision, 62% believe it was an incorrect decision.

□ Stance varies by political orientation (evaluation of state administration, party affiliation, ideological tendency, etc.)

On February 19th, the court ruled guilty for individuals who engaged in a boycott movement, specifically an advertising boycott, against companies that advertised in Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Dong-A Ilbo during last year's candlelight protests. Regarding this matter, 31.0% of our citizens hold the stance that "it was a correct decision," while 62.0% hold the stance that "it was an incorrect decision."

First, examining the demographic groups that positively evaluated this ruling shows a pattern similar to the evaluation of the National Academic Achievement Assessment and the Lee Myung-bak administration's education policies. The stance that it was a "correct decision" was relatively higher among those aged 50 and above (43.7%), with a middle school education or below (38.1%), and with average monthly household incomes of under 1 million KRW (34.3%) and over 4.01 million KRW (34.4%). These groups are generally supporters of President Lee Myung-bak and the Grand National Party, or exhibit strong conservative tendencies. Conversely, groups strongly holding the view that it was an incorrect decision tend to be those with higher education, younger generations, and those with progressive tendencies – traditional supporters of opposition parties. This suggests that partisan affiliation or ideological differences are leading to differing perspectives on various issues.

Indeed, 53.0% of citizens who evaluated the Lee Myung-bak administration's state administration positively also responded that this ruling was correct. Among those who evaluated the Lee Myung-bak administration negatively, only 18.1% supported the ruling. In terms of party affiliation, 54.5% of Grand National Party supporters and 16.4% of Democratic Party supporters responded that the ruling was correct, showing a contrast. Among those who responded that it was an incorrect decision, 39.4% of Grand National Party supporters and 77.2% of Democratic Party supporters held this view. Ideologically, 48.7% of respondents who identified their ideological tendency as conservative, and 24.0% who identified as progressive, stated that it was a correct decision. Furthermore, 46.7% of respondents identifying as conservative and 71.0% identifying as progressive viewed the ruling as incorrect.

The distinct difference in stances based on party affiliation and ideological tendency is evident not only in the issue of the "ruling on netizens who pressured advertisers to cease advertising" but also in the "evaluation of the Lee Myung-bak administration's education policy direction" and the "method of the National Academic Achievement Assessment," as examined previously. This implies that the majority of citizens are evaluating current issues based on their political orientation and ideology rather than on a pragmatic perspective grounded in self-interest.

[Figure 13] Evaluation of the Guilty Verdict for Advertising Boycott Movement (%).

Note 1. Don't know/No answer are not shown.

[Figure 14] Evaluation of Ruling by Political Tendency (%).

Note 1. Don't know/No answer are not shown.

[Figure 15] Stance on Lee Myung-bak Administration's "Competition"-Oriented Education Policy Direction by Political Tendency (%).

Note 1. Don't know/No answer are not shown.

[Figure 16] Stance on the National Academic Achievement Assessment and Announcement Method (%).

Note 1. Don't know/No answer are not shown.