A Study on the Policy of Autonomous Private High Schools: Focusing on the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory

This study analyzes the repeated cycles of maintenance and abolition in the Autonomous Private High School policy through the perspective of Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET). The research examines the trajectory of the policy-from its introduction and expansion to its abolition and reinstatement-based on key PET concepts such as policy image competition, policy monopoly, punctuation, and equilibrium (including its failure). The analysis finds that strong presidential commitment and the structure of policy image competition were major drivers of policy change. In particular, the Moon Jae-in administration’s decision to abolish the policy and the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s reversal represent typical cases of policy punctuation and equilibrium failure. This study contributes theoretically by applying PET to the field of education policy, offering insights into the political and institutional factors that drive policy change.