Presentation Schedule
Reforming School Leadership Selection in South Korea: Policy Rationales, Implementation Dynamics, and Leadership Implications of the Open Recruitment System (107306)
Session Chair: YuehChun Huang
Monday, 11 May 2026 16:45
Session: Session 4
Room: Room G407 (4F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
School principals play a critical role in shaping school quality, instructional improvement, and organizational effectiveness. In response to the limitations of seniority-based promotion systems, South Korea introduced the Open Recruitment System for Principals (ORSP) in 2007 as part of broader educational governance and democratization reforms. This study examines the policy rationale, implementation processes, and perceived effects of the ORSP, with particular attention to its implications for school leadership and educational reform.
Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on in-depth interviews with nine Korean education professionals, including university professors and principals appointed through both open recruitment and traditional pathways. The interview data were analyzed thematically to capture diverse perspectives on the purposes, strengths, and challenges of the ORSP. The findings indicate that the system was widely intended to promote leadership innovation, school-level autonomy, and responsiveness to local needs by diversifying recruitment channels. Interviewees generally acknowledged that principals appointed through open recruitment tend to demonstrate stronger reform orientation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning capacity.
However, the study also identifies persistent challenges, including inconsistent implementation across regions, concerns regarding fairness and transparency, political influence in selection processes, and uneven impacts on teacher professionalism and student outcomes. While some participants advocated for the coexistence of open recruitment and traditional systems to enhance contextual flexibility, others questioned the system’s effectiveness and sustainability.
The study concludes that the ORSP holds significant potential to modernize principal selection in South Korea, but its success depends on clearer evaluation criteria, improved governance mechanisms, and stronger leadership preparation and support structures. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and scholars interested in comparative school leadership reform.
Authors:
Yueh-Chun Huang, National Chiayi University, Taiwan
About the Presenter(s)
Professor Yueh-Chun Huang is a at National Chiayi University in Taiwan
See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule
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