Minister of Education nominee Lee Jin-sook said on the 16th regarding the controversy over the early study abroad of her two children, "I strongly hoped that my first child would study in the United States, so I granted her wish."
That day, during a personnel hearing held by the Education Committee of the National Assembly, Lee was asked by Jin Sun-mi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, "It would be better to apologize for sending all your children abroad for early study, which does not meet national standards," to which she replied.
He stated, "From 2001 to 2002, my spouse and I stayed in the U.S. as visiting researchers," adding, "This opportunity led my eldest child to hope to study in the United States."
Lee said, "As a parent, it was hard to separate, so I tried to dissuade her, but (the eldest child) was determined," and added, "In this situation, I could not win, so I granted her wish."
Both of Lee's daughters studied abroad at an early age in the United States. In response, there have been criticisms led by groups like the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations that a person who has chosen early study abroad, representative of private education, cannot hold the position of the head of public education.
Additionally, allegations have arisen that Lee violated the Elementary and Secondary Education Act during her children's early study abroad process. The qualification for private study abroad is considered legal if at least one parent leaves the country and takes the child with them, but this is because Lee and her spouse were employed as professors at domestic universities at the time their younger daughter studied abroad.
Regarding this, Lee said, "In the case of my second child, she went (to study abroad) because her sister went," and explained, "I only thought about how she would fall back by a year and a half while following her sister to study abroad, and I did not even realize it could be illegal."
He continued, "Even if I did not recognize (the violation), it was a big mistake," adding, "I feel sorry to the public."