Vice Education Minister Lee Joo-ho has dismissed a suggestion to close down foreign language high schools, citing practical difficulties.

During a university lecture, he remarked on the suggestion made during the recent parliamentary inquiries.

He said closing the foreign language high schools would have adverse side effects.

The vice minister viewed that allowing these schools to compete with autonomous private high schools will be more desirable.

He added the government will come up with measures by year’s end to improve special-purpose high schools, including reduced benefits for foreign language high schools.