Seoul: In South Korea, elections for superintendents of education coincide with local elections, yet voters often cast ballots without knowing much about the superintendent candidates. The upcoming June 3 election is no exception, with 58 candidates running for superintendent positions across 16 metropolitan and provincial education offices. Despite participating in TV debates, the candidates have struggled to capture the electorate's attention.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Seoul has set a record with eight candidates entering the superintendent race, the highest number since the direct election system was introduced. This abundance of candidates has left voters uncertain about whom to choose. Although political parties cannot nominate candidates to ensure educational independence from political influence, the candidates are typically divided into conservative and progressive camps. Efforts to unify candidates within these camps have often failed, contributing to the high number of contestants.

Defying candidate unification agreements has become common in these elections. There was even a case where a candidate, previously convicted of bribing a rival and stripped of his superintendent post, ran again in a by-election after receiving a special pardon. This candidate faced moral condemnation and criticism for his candidacy, especially since he had not repaid government campaign subsidies required under election law violations.

Candidates from both camps have made lavish campaign promises, aiming to win voter favor through financial incentives. A survey revealed that 40 candidates pledged cash support ranging from 100,000 won ($66) to 50 million won per student. Promises included 1 million won per student upon entering middle or high school, funds for college tuition or job preparation, and fully free early childhood education. One candidate even suggested creating a "self-reliance fund" of up to 50 million won per student, funded by matching parents' contributions with education office budgets.

Some pledges appeared extravagant, such as offering 200,000 won per student monthly for after-school private education, despite a superintendent's responsibility to develop public education. This ability to make such pledges stems from a loophole in the local education financial grant system, which allocates 20.79 percent of internal tax revenue to local education offices annually. As student numbers decline, yet grants increase, candidates exploit this to make cash handout-like pledges. With low voter interest, candidates may be attempting to secure votes through populist strategies.

The direct election system for education superintendents, first implemented in 2007, seems to contribute less to educational development, with its side effects growing amid voter indifference.