On the 15th, the Seoul City Council noted regarding the Supreme Court ruling that the local government ordinance allowing the disclosure of the basic academic ability diagnostic test results of Seoul students is valid, stating that it recognizes the assembly's judgment that protecting children's rights is a fundamental duty of public education.
On this day, the Supreme Court's 1st Division (Chief Justice Seo Kyung-hwan) dismissed the plaintiff's claim in the lawsuit filed by the Seoul Superintendent of Education against the Seoul City Council, seeking to invalidate the 'local government ordinance on the support for ensuring basic academic ability in Seoul.' The ruling stated that the local government ordinance related to this, proclaimed by the Seoul City Council in May 2023, is legitimate.
This local government ordinance mainly stipulates that if the school principal deems it necessary, the basic academic ability diagnostic test results for Seoul students must be disclosed every year in March and April. Previously, these results were not disclosed externally.
Seoul City Council Chair Choi Ho-jung said, "Despite Seoul having a higher percentage of students lacking basic academic ability compared to other regions, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has knocked on the Supreme Court's door, arguing that since matters related to basic academic abilities are state-commissioned affairs, it cannot create local government ordinances, rather than making efforts to resolve the issue." He continued, "The primary purpose of schools is to guide learning, and especially, meeting basic academic ability is the minimum obligation of public education. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education should be asserting that this is a local matter, yet it has neglected it."
He added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education must now strive to ensure that our children do not leave school without even having basic academic ability."
On the same day, Seoul City Council Member Kim Hyun-ki (People Power Party · Gangnam 3) also expressed, regarding the Supreme Court ruling, "This will significantly contribute to reducing the number of students lacking basic academic ability and will greatly help secure the autonomy of the legislative body as a representative institution of citizens in the establishment and amendment of local government ordinances, and I welcome it wholeheartedly."