편집자 주     본지에서는 전세계 외국인 독자들을 대상으로 한국의 역사와 문화를 정확하게 소개하기 위해 김정기 변호사의 칼럼을 영문판으로 연재를 시작합니다.

한국의 역사와 문화에 관심있는 전 세계인들에게 도움이 되길 바랍니다.

한국어 독자들은 한국어로 번역된 화면이 보이므로 반드시 사이트 상단에서 원문보기로 설정하셔야 영문판으로 보실수 있습니다.
 

  

 

☆김정기 총장 주요 약력☆
 
● 학력
- 뉴욕주립대학교(StonyBrook) 정치학과 수석졸업
- 마케트대학교(Marquette) 로스쿨 법학박사
- 하버드대학교(Harvard) 케네디스쿨 최고위과정
- 베이징대학교(Peking) 북한학 연구학자

 
● 경력
- 제8대 주상하이 대한민국 총영사(13등급 대사)
- 2010 상하이엑스포 대한민국관 정부대표
- 아시아태평양지방정부네트워크(CityNet) 사무국 대표
- 세계스마트시티기구(WeGO) 사무국 사무총장
- 밀워키지방법원 재판연구원 
- 법무법인 대륙아주 중국 총괄 미국변호사
- 난징대학교 국제경제연구소 객좌교수
- 베이징대학교 동방학연구원 연구교수
- 국민대학교 정치대학원 특임교수
- 동국대학교 경영전문대학원 석좌교수
- 숭실사이버대학교 초대 총장

 
● 저서
- 대학생을 위한 거로영어연구[전10권](거로출판사)
- 나는 1%의 가능성에 도전한다(조선일보사)
- 한국형 협상의 법칙(청년정신사)
- 대한민국과 세계 이야기(도서출판 책미듬)

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = Korea Story 36 - <Education 5  by Atty Jeong-kee Kim>

● Universities in Korea, no academics, only diplomas?

Recently, there was a case where science high school students dropped out en masse with the intention of going to Seoul National University. Because science high schools are comprised of only bright students, they are at a disadvantage in terms of academic performance compared to students at regular high schools. So, what came out as a self-help measure for students was to take the High School Equivalency Exam, which replaces high school GPA with a percentage of HSEE scores. Students also know this well. No matter how well you work and how hard you work, if you don't have a diploma from a top university, how will you be treated in this society? 

There is no one in all walks of life who does not know that a very small number of graduates from top universities, such as Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University, have built a powerful force and control the Republic of Korea. We cannot ignore this social trend, so how earnest is the desire of parents to somehow insert their children into the elite group. The ills of our society continue to be passed down to the extent that the entire country has to go through the absurd ‘entrance exam war’ every year just to get into a top university or to obtain a certificate of status in the form of academic background. 

However, does the university, which students dedicate their youth to entering with great effort, truly serve as a proper institution of learning and a place to nurture the talent needed by society?

According to 'College Students in Korea' published by the Korean Council for University Education, as many as 58 percent of Korean college students spend less than 2 hours of study time per week on average, and it is analyzed that in reality, the situation may be much more serious than that. It is not new that Korean college students neglect their studies. According to a survey conducted by the Korea University Education Research Institute, a whopping 51.1% of college students do not study for even an hour a day, and what is even more pathetic is the fact that one in ten college students believes that simply enrolling in university guarantees graduation.

Despite government proclamations about "improving the quality of university education to prepare for a knowledge-based society," the reality of universities remains largely unchanged. Even more shocking is the general lack of interest in classes and the lack of basic academic skills among many university students. At Seoul National University, which is considered the best in the country, professors have reached the point where they are unable to teach because students cannot keep up with basic math, classical Chinese, and basic English.

A crisis in education is a sign of the collapse of a nation. How should we respond to the total crisis in our education that we face now? This is a very serious problem. How can a university, the highest educational institution at the forefront of academic research, expect competent talent or workers if it does not have the ability to self-purify? 

Students are expected to study diligently. Measures should be taken to fail students who do not fulfill their duties, delay graduation, and allow only those who study properly to earn their credits. Additionally, universities should pursue specialization to cultivate talent that meets societal needs. The inadequate academic management that allows students to wear graduation caps despite insufficient qualifications must be thoroughly reformed.

In an era of global competition, the most crucial element is people, and talent is undeniable. The current education system, which produces hollow graduates, directly reflects our nation's poor competitive edge. How can individual competitiveness thrive if national competitiveness is lacking? Policies of past administrations that have neglected the humanities and basic sciences might lead to a shortage of personnel and undermine the foundation of the country within the next 20 years.

Our university students need to regain a healthy mindset, focus on academic pursuits, and contemplate what they can contribute to this country and the world. This is an urgent requirement, and only by returning to this fundamental attitude can we preserve the future of this country. The vicious cycle of students obtaining diplomas without engaging in academic research must come to an end. Even if one graduates from a top university, if young people enter society as hollow individuals and contribute nothing of positive value due to a narrow mindset focused solely on academic prestige, there is no real hope for us.

American university students study with the same intensity as Korean high school students. I chose to attend a university in the U.S. rather than a domestic one because I recognized their passion for academics. In the U.S., a university degree is not seen merely as a social badge or a tool for entering the social elite. During high school, students decide whether to acquire professional skills, pursue academic research, or enter the workforce directly. We still need to learn from their advanced awareness, rather than holding onto preconceived notions about freedom and indulgence in the U.S.

A long time ago, the Minister of Education's statement to eliminate the educational background section on employment resumes caused many problems, but the practice of judging a person's abilities and future based on a diploma that only shows academic background and results is widespread in our society.

In the book "The Country Can Only Survive if Universities Fail," Professor Kim Dong-hoon sharply criticizes the academic culture, stating: "Universities are the front line for expanding and reproducing the ideology of a class-based society centered around academic credentials."

Professor Kim noted that the narrow-minded value system focused on academic credentials fosters a sense of defeat and inferiority among those excluded from the ranks, which acts as a destabilizing element in society.

A friend who works in the media once mentioned that although not explicitly stated in job recruitment criteria, only graduates from a few select universities are considered, so applications from graduates of other universities are filtered out in the document review process.

The deep-rooted academic elitism that continues to expand and reproduce will only further damage our society. Professor Kim Dong-hoon also stated, "The harm of academic elitism is as serious as the harm of regionalism." Without breaking the entrenched framework of academic elitism, no matter how much we claim to be an advanced society, Korea’s progress will inevitably be slowed by this inertia.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)