REVIEW OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in has called for a reassessment of the college entrance system in the wake of the college admissions scandal, involving the justice minister nominee's daughter. This is the first time that the president directly mentioned the allegations surrounding his choice for minister.

[Pkg]

At a meeting with high-ranking officials held before his three-nation visit in Southeast Asia... President Moon Jae-in spoke about the allegations surrounding Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk. He asked for an overall reassessment of the college entrance system not just for the sake of investigating the controversies involving the nominee's family. He said that efforts have been made to overhaul the college admissions system, but many Koreans still think the system is unfair. The president stressed that the government must realize that an unfair system could hurt the younger generation that lack available opportunities. He instructed his officials to look at the reality and find feasible solutions. However, the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae made it clear that the admissions scandal and Cho's future position are separate issues. That means that the core issue is to overhaul the unfair college entrance system, not for Cho, who followed proper procedures to send his daughter to prestigious colleges, to withdraw his nomination. As for the conflict raging between the two opposing political camps over Cho's hearing... President Moon said that it would be hard to select the right people if the hearing system, which was instituted to find competent people, is turned into a political tool. He added that several people have already refused his offer for ministerial positions. This remark seems to suggest that the president will forge ahead with Cho's nomination. But, at the same time, the president seems to take the public opinion very seriously, so political analysts say that he has to watch how people's opinions change.