Jo Jeon-hyeok and Ryu Su-no, candidates for Seoul superintendent of education, agreed to consolidate their campaigns through public opinion polling. They said the move is essential to overcome the crisis in Seoul's education system and restore the fundamentals of public education.
In an agreement released on the 11th, both candidates said, “Unifying our candidacies is not a choice but a necessity to restore standards that have been shaken over the past 12 years and to recover the essence of public education.” They pledged to work together to restore basic academic skills, reinforce teachers’ authority, and secure political neutrality in education.
The centrist-conservative camp has been alarmed by a crowded field and low support in the Seoul superintendent race. There were concerns that a divided conservative bloc could hand the superintendent’s post to progressives. For that reason, centrist conservatives and civil society groups have repeatedly urged consolidation around a symbolic candidate with general-election viability.
The unification will be decided by opinion polls conducted May 13–14. The two sides will select two firms from a list of 10 agreed polling organizations and carry out ARS (automated response system) phone surveys of 1,400 respondents.
Both candidates agreed to accept the outcome. The candidate who is not selected as the unified nominee will serve as the other’s campaign committee chair and join efforts to win the election and restore Seoul's education system.
Jo said he accepts the responsibility citizens have entrusted to him to normalize Seoul education. He described the unification as a responsible decision for children’s futures and for rehabilitating public education—not a mere political alliance—and said that partnering with Ryu represents an important first step toward unifying the centrist-conservative camp.
Earlier, Yoon Ho-sang had been chosen as the conservative camp’s single candidate, but Ryu rejected that outcome and filed for an injunction to suspend the poll results. Jo also proceeded with an independent bid, raising concerns about a fragmented field. Observers are watching how this unification will reshape the race for Seoul superintendent.
Reporter Shin Hwa-sook hsshin087@viva100.com
