Is Choi Yun-hong the Key to Reviving Busan’s Education? Explore His Ambitious Plans!

In preparation for the upcoming June 3rd local elections, Choi Yoon-hong, former Deputy Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, has registered as the first preliminary candidate for the Busan Superintendent election.
Choi emphasized his commitment to “rebuilding the crumbling foundation of Busan’s education system,” aiming to create an educational ecosystem where teachers, students, and parents can all thrive. However, his candidacy is shadowed by ongoing legal challenges, as he faces trial for allegedly misusing public officials during last year’s Busan Superintendent by-election.
Choi’s campaign team announced that he completed his preliminary candidate registration with the Busan Election Commission on the morning of the 10th. He is scheduled to hold an official press conference on the 11th to unveil his six major policy pledges.
Choi stated, “True education isn’t about flashy slogans or ideological debates. It’s about creating an environment where teachers can educate without fear, children can learn with respect, and parents can feel secure about their children’s schooling.” He added, “I aim to bring about a significant transformation in Busan’s education system, fostering a virtuous cycle of happiness.”
Choi, who started his career as a low-level education official, was appointed as the 33rd Deputy Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education in October 2022, following the inauguration of former Superintendent Ha Yun-soo. After Ha was disqualified in December 2024 due to violations of the Local Education Autonomy Act, Choi stepped in as acting superintendent. He later resigned to run in the Busan Superintendent by-election last April. During that campaign, he pledged to continue existing policies such as academic improvement initiatives and the Year-Round School program. However, his efforts were hampered by his failure to unify the moderate conservative camp, resulting in a three-way race.
The legal issues that emerged during the by-election process are expected to impact this local election as well. Choi is currently on trial for allegedly assigning election campaign planning duties to four public officials from the Busan Office of Education or using them for campaign purposes, which violates the Local Education Autonomy Act. While Choi’s team generally acknowledges the facts of the case, they maintain that “legally, no crime has been committed.”