The scandal over the infiltration of public schools by the far-right group Rhee Park School has marked the beginning of new progressive President Lee Jae-myung's term, exemplifying the deep ideological rift that divides South Korea.

On Saturday, June 7, Lee's Democratic Party (PD) called for "full transparency" regarding the organization, which lies at the heart of South Korea's new evangelical and anti-communist right. Founded in 2017, its full name, the Rhee Syngman – Park Chung-hee School, refers to the two dictators who led South Korea from 1948 to 1979. According to the PD, it is necessary to understand how the group "attempted to manipulate public opinion and indoctrinate children with extremist propaganda." Outgoing conservative education minister Lee Ju-ho is scheduled to be questioned before the National Assembly on June 11.

The scandal broke on May 30, after investigative media outlet Newstapa revealed that speakers linked to the group had entered several Seoul schools. Among them was Yang Ju-young, daughter-in-law of the controversial pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon − a prominent defender of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol (2022 – 2025), who was impeached for declaring martial law on December 3, 2024.

You have 76.58% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.