Jung Keun-sik, a former Seoul National University professor of sociology, took office as Seoul's new education chief Thursday after his victory in a by-election the previous day, promising to visit educational sites every week for closer communications with teachers and students. Jung, a liberal educator, defeated conservative Cho Jun-hyuk by a narrow margin in Wednesday's by-election for the superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which took place after left-leaning predecessor Cho Hee-yeon received a suspended prison sentence in August for abuse of power and was stripped of his post. Jung vowed to carry on Cho's policies during his by-election campaign. Citing a low by-election turnout of 23.48 percent, the 67-year-old Jung said he will increase Seoul citizens' interest in education through extensive communication with them. In his first official duty, he approved a document related to the establishment of a learning diagnosis and healing center intended to help students with learn ing difficulties and borderline intellectual functioning. Source: Yonhap News Agency