Lee Jin-sook spent $690,000 on her two daughters' study abroad expenses.. "Equivalent to an apartment price"

[Financial News] It was revealed that Lee Jin-sook, candidate for Minister of Education, remitted $690,000 over 8 years for her two daughters' studies in the United States. Considering exchange rates and inflation, it is claimed to amount to 1.2 billion won.

According to News1, Seo Ji-young, a member of the People Power Party, stated at the confirmation hearing for the candidate held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 16th, "According to the materials submitted by the candidate, the remittance for high school tuition and guardian fees (for taking care of the child) is $330,000, and the remittance for college tuition and living expenses is $360,000, making the total remittance related to the candidate's children's overseas studies $690,000."

Representative Seo explained, "Calculating with the exchange rate of 1,100 won at the time, it amounts to 750 million won, and with the 2025 exchange rate of 1,300 won, it amounts to 880 million won, but considering the inflation rate, it is 1.255 billion won." He continued, "In 2014, a 24-pyeong apartment in Gangnam was 1 billion won," and criticized, "It was diagnosed as the most concerning current problem of Korean education that the inheritance of education can lead to the inheritance of wealth, and she was the person involved."

The candidate stated, "I am sorry that the high tuition does not meet the public's expectations," but added, "I attended public schools and studied at a national university with scholarships, and I studied abroad on a government scholarship, so I am sincerely here thanks to the benefits of public education. If given the opportunity, I would like to do my best to ensure that many students can enjoy the benefits of public education in Korea with my heart."

Meanwhile, the candidate's children completed their high school education at the famous boarding school in the United States, Madeira School. The eldest daughter graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and pursued a master's degree at the same university, while the second daughter went through Rice University and received a master's degree from Harvard University.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun