Who should become a superintendent? An analysis of stakeholders' perceptions in South Korea

Along with the comprehensive restructuring of the local office of education across South Korea, the leadership role of superintendents has become a national concern. This requires an examination into the qualification and recruitment method of superintendents to sustain the restructuring effort. In this study, 2,240 stakeholders including teachers, parents, and education officials responded to a survey about their perceptions of controversial issues surrounding superintendent recruitment. Results show that stakeholders are generally dissatisfied with the current practice through which superintendents are recruited. However, there was a perception gap between school-level stakeholders and education officials, depending on their respective interests. Based on the findings, implications for improving superintendent recruitment policy are suggested.