President Lee Myung-bak said on Tuesday, “Even though U.S. President Barack Obama seems to think highly of the South Korean educational system, I myself am not content with our system.”

President Lee made this statements when he reported on plans for operations for the new year in education, science and culture at the National Research Foundation in Daejeon. He conveyed the remarks President Obama made about the South Korean Educational system during a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) on Nov. 19.

Lee said, “I was embarrassed when President Obama suddenly asked me ‘What are the merits of the South Korean Educational system?’” Lee added, “I did not know what answer I could give.” Lee continued, “Finally, I answered President Obama, ‘South Korean parents keep their children in school even if they are very poor. Due to this consciousness of education, many children from poor families attend school, and they end the cycle of poverty. South Korea’s development has advanced as a result of the consciousness of education held by South Korean parents.”

President Lee also said, “President Obama mentioned the merits of the South Korean educational system to the U.S. forces in South Korea at Osan Air Base and has mentioned it three times in U.S. in less than one month.” Lee added, “In some ways, I feel sorry for President Obama.” Lee explained, “I feel sorry for him because many people here in Korea worry about education because the system of education has changed so many times and has not yet taken root.” Experts are interpreting the remarks to mean that President Lee was speaking in regards to problems surrounding high tuition fees for private schools.

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