[Exclusive] 'Comment Manipulation Allegations' Re-Park School Expands into Youth Counseling

[비즈한국] Amid growing controversy surrounding the far-right history education organization 'Re-Park School,' it has been confirmed that Son Hyo-sook, the representative of Re-Park School, recently took on the role of representative for an incorporated association dedicated to youth support. As this organization is an entity authorized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the youth leaders (instructors and counselors) affiliated with it are required to undergo periodic training under the Youth Basic Act. It appears that Representative Son and her associates have expanded their sphere of influence from elementary education into the field of youth guidance.

On June 4, the police launched a compulsory investigation into the conservative organization 'Re-Park School,' which is suspected of manipulating online comments. Photo = Yonhap News

According to the corporate registration, Son Hyo-sook, representative of Re-Park School, took office as a director and representative of the 'YMCA School Love Association (YMCA Haksa-yeon)' on May 19. YMCA Haksa-yeon is based on the 'Association for Loving Schools and Youth,' established in 2008, and changed its name to the current one in November 2013. The purpose of the association is to provide support for cultural and daily activities for low-income (marginalized) youth, mentor activities for women, social participation projects, and mentee sponsorship programs.

According to past media reports, YMCA Haksa-yeon seems to have focused on activities unrelated to history education, such as Kimjang volunteer work, operating daily tea rooms, and supporting school uniforms for low-income families. Last January, it also signed a business agreement with the Jung-gu District Committee of the 'Ministry of Justice Youth Crime Prevention Committee Seoul Central Regional Council,' a private volunteer organization established based on Ministry of Justice directives. A glimpse of its connection to Re-Park School can be seen starting in April of this year. On April 25, an education media outlet posted an article stating that the 'Korea Neulbom Education Association' and YMCA Haksa-yeon had signed an MOU, though the article has since been deleted.

YMCA Haksa-yeon is an organization authorized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and is one of the 'institutions subject to refresher training for youth counselors.' Organizations subject to such training are either those authorized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family or local governments, or those joined with the Korea Youth Organizations Association, as stipulated in the 'Notice on Qualification Certification and Training for Youth Counselors.' Youth leaders and counselors belonging to these groups must receive at least 8 hours of refresher training annually for self-improvement in accordance with the 'Youth Basic Act.' This suggests that Representative Son has broadened her activities into the field of youth guidance and counseling.

The YMCA is a Christian-based private movement organization. In the case of the Seoul YMCA, it has carried out various activities for youth protection, such as monitoring harmful environments and operating shelters. While YMCA Haksa-yeon has its office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, it has been confirmed that it has no relation to the Seoul YMCA.

An official from the Seoul YMCA stated, "It is a place I have never heard of. YMCA branches are divided into directly managed and entrusted ones; in the case of entrusted ones, they are operated in connection with local governments. Especially if it is an incorporated association, it is a separate entity from the YMCA. Since the foundation does not restrict the use of the 'YMCA' name, I do not know why they use it, but it is an organization unrelated to the Seoul YMCA."

On June 11, an emergency inquiry regarding the Re-Park School controversy was held at the National Assembly's Education Committee. Photo = Reporter Park Eun-sook

Re-Park School, which became known through Newstapa reports last May, is a conservative educational organization named after former presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee. It is alleged that they taught far-right historical views to children through after-school classes at elementary schools and engaged in organized comment manipulation ahead of the 21st presidential election. Recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit launched an investigation, including raids on the Re-Park School office and Representative Son.

Representative Son is also the board chair of 'Glory Social Cooperative,' which operates after-school school outsourcing businesses. The Glory Cooperative has provided after-school programs and issued private instructor certifications for programs like 'Neulbom' education. Initially, the Glory Cooperative shared the same office as Re-Park School in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, but relocated its address to Namdong-gu, Incheon, on December 4, 2024.

The Glory Cooperative is known to have provided science teaching aids and programs to elementary schools in the Incheon area. In response, the Incheon Teachers' Union issued a statement saying, "We request the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education to verify the facts and respond in order to protect educational rights and uphold the public nature and neutrality of school education."

The controversy intensified as it was revealed that Re-Park School had dispatched instructors to Neulbom schools under the name of the Korea Neulbom Education Association. A Neulbom school is an after-school educational program for elementary students aimed at preventing care gaps and easing the burden of child-rearing by connecting educational resources from schools and local communities. The Korea Neulbom Education Association is headed by the daughter of Re-Park School's Representative Son; although "incorporated association" was included in its formal name, allegations were raised on the 11th that it is a fraudulent organization not actually registered as an incorporated association.

The Korea Neulbom Education Association signed a business agreement with Seoul National University of Education in October 2024 for Neulbom school program support and instructor training. Seoul National University of Education participated in the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity's Neulbom support project contest and was selected as an implementation agency. Through this, Re-Park School reportedly supplied programs and dispatched instructors to 10 elementary schools in the Seoul area.

Oh Seok-hwan, Vice Minister of Education, stated at an emergency National Assembly inquiry on the 11th, "We inspected the 10 elementary schools, but could not confirm any issues related to violations of educational neutrality. We will conduct additional online surveys to listen to parents' opinions and monitor related complaints."