Math instructor Jeong Seung-je labels medical school prep for toddlers child abuse

Math instructor Jeong Seung-je sparked intense debate after calling medical school preparatory classes for 3- or 4-year-olds child abuse during a YouTube appearance on the 4th. The remarks have drawn both sympathy and criticism regarding the instructor's role within the private education market.

Star math instructor Jeong Seung-je has ignited a firestorm of debate in the education sector and online after launching a scathing critique against so-called "4-year-old medical school prep classes," labeling the practice child abuse. His blunt description of the reality where children are exposed to private education to target medical school admissions from early childhood as a "completely crazy country" has elicited both sympathy and backlash. The controversy is further complicated by the fact that a famous instructor, who wields immense influence in the private education market, is criticizing the education system itself.

On the YouTube channel Chimchakman, a video titled "Korean vs. English vs. Math: Which is Most Important?" was released on the 4th. The video featured math instructor Jeong Seung-je, Korean instructor Yoo Dae-jong, and English instructor Kim Ji-young—all of whom appear together on the Channel A educational variety show Teachers 3: The Retake Battle—discussing the importance of various subjects and the reality of education.

When asked by Chimchakman about the ultimate goal of Teachers 3, Jeong Seung-je replied, "If you do it properly, it works. You can't just study for one year." While explaining the reality of math education, he raised the issue of medical school preparatory classes for young children. "Especially since I am a math instructor, in the case of math, they enter medical school prep classes from ages 3 or 4," he said, sharpening his tone by adding, "It is a completely crazy country."

Yoo Dae-jong expressed shock at Jeong Seung-je's remarks. "Starting from age 4? At age 4, they won't even remember," he said, questioning the reality of preparing for medical school admissions from early childhood. In response, Jeong Seung-je argued more strongly for the need for institutional countermeasures.

"I don't know why the state doesn't restrain that," he said. "I think they should be detained and punished for child abuse. It is truly too much." His point was that this is not merely a matter of discussing the efficiency of early education, but that the act of forcing entrance exam competition on young children should be socially regulated.

Jeong Seung-je also emphasized that his questioning was intended to counter the atmosphere that justifies the current educational reality. "It wasn't to support an atmosphere that thinks (this situation) is right, but I wanted to show that it is not," he added. He expressed a desire to change the reality where a competition-centered education system is accepted as natural and inevitable.

However, once the remarks were released, criticism poured in online regarding Jeong Seung-je's qualifications and the sincerity of his comments. Some netizens pointed out the contradiction between his professional position and his remarks, with comments such as, "How can he speak like a crusader of justice when he is also a private education instructor?", "That's not something an academy instructor should say," and "He makes a living through private education." The issue raised is whether a figure at the center of the private education market can hold persuasive power when criticizing the harms of private education.

The criticism even extended beyond Jeong Seung-je to the private education industry as a whole. Intense reactions such as, "The instructors in that field who lead such an educational trend are also crazy devils," appeared, expressing social dissatisfaction regarding early childhood education and entrance exam competition. The debate continues over how much structural responsibility should be assigned to the private education market following Jeong Seung-je's remarks.

On the other hand, there were many voices actively sympathizing with his questioning. Comments criticizing parents and the educational environment that force entrance exam preparation from early childhood followed, such as, "It is indeed a crazy country," and "Those parents should be arrested for child abuse. Such vanity is a crime." Some argued that in a situation where even schools strictly manage children's class participation and lives, the act of placing an excessive learning burden on young children should be viewed even more seriously.

Defenses of Jeong Seung-je also emerged. One reaction, "He just went on a variety show; he'll be surprised to see the news about Jeong-saem," is interpreted as suggesting that excessive criticism is being directed at him for expressing honest opinions about educational reality during a variety show appearance. This view evaluates his remarks not merely as a self-contradiction within the private education market, but as a warning against the overheating of educational competition.

In particular, one comment succinctly captured the core of the debate: "It is ironic that a person who wouldn't even have any presence if it weren't for this 'crazy country' and the existence of 'star instructors' is saying these things." It questions how sincerely the criticism of a system can be accepted when the competition in private education serves as the foundation for the growth of famous instructors and the education industry.

Born in 1976, Jeong Seung-je is a representative math instructor with over 10 million cumulative students. He currently appears on the Channel A educational variety show Teachers 3: The Retake Battle, which airs every Thursday at 10 PM, examining students' learning problems and the reality of entrance exams. Attention is focused on whether his decisive remarks against the educational climate of preparing for medical school from early childhood will lead to social reflection on early education and private education competition beyond a simple online debate.

Read the original (Korean)