The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of two autonomous private high schools in Seoul that filed a suit against the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education for stripping them of their independent licenses.

With the court’s decision issued on Tuesday, Soongmoon High School and Shinil High School will remain autonomous private high schools.

In July 2019, the Seoul education office rescinded such licenses for eight schools in its jurisdiction after they failed a performance assessment. The Education Ministry accepted the decision.

However, the schools then filed lawsuits, claiming there were procedural problems. This is the second ruling to be issued on the education office’s move.

Earlier on February 18, a court ruled in favor of Paichai High School and Sehwa High School, which also filed a suit to retain their status as private high schools.