Candidate Kwon Soonki Vows to Eliminate Gaps in Student Health

"Student Mental Health Primary Doctor"
"Safe Helmet Distribution" Pledge Announced

Kwon Soonki, a preliminary candidate for superintendent of education in Gyeongnam, announced on May 3 a set of practical education pledges focused on simultaneously addressing students' "mental health" and "physical safety."

He proposed the establishment of a systematic mental health management system for the early identification of at-risk students, as well as a large-scale distribution of safety helmets to students who use bicycles, aiming to completely prevent safety accidents.

Kwon stated, "It has been found that more than one in five out-of-school adolescents have considered suicide in the past year," adding, "Society must reach out to young people before they give up on themselves. Counseling for psychological and mental health issues should be prioritized."

In fact, according to the "2025 Survey on Out-of-School Adolescents" recently released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the rate of suicidal ideation was 21.1%, and actual suicide attempts were reported by 7.8% of respondents.

Feelings of depression were experienced by 31.1%, and 35.1% reported periods of social withdrawal, meaning about one in three. The most common reason for leaving school was "psychological or mental health issues," accounting for 32.4%.

However, 40% of respondents said they regretted dropping out of school, with the main reasons being fewer opportunities to make friends and a lack of a sense of belonging.

In response, Kwon pledged the implementation of a "Student Mental Health Primary Doctor" program, designed to foster healing and management of students' mental health through collaboration among schools, families, and the local community.

The core of this program is to conduct life-stage health screenings for third grade in elementary school, second grade in middle school, and first grade in high school—ages when emotional sensitivity typically increases.

This initiative will operate in three stages: (1) assigning a primary doctor at each school, consisting of specialists and clinical psychologists; (2) conducting comprehensive preliminary screenings to identify high-risk groups; and (3) issuing vouchers for in-depth examinations and referring students to local partner institutions for treatment and follow-up.

Initially, about 30% of the targeted grades in the Gyeongnam region will be included in a pilot program, with funding allocated for comprehensive screening, in-depth examination vouchers, and primary doctor activity fees to enhance effectiveness.

Kwon emphasized, "Early intervention is crucial for mental health issues," and added, "Through the primary doctor system, we will proactively respond to crisis situations and establish an integrated community care foundation."

He also announced plans to promote a "Safe Helmet Distribution" project to ensure students' safety during school commutes. This decision was based on the observation that, despite a rapid increase in bicycle use among students, the rate of wearing safety equipment remains low.

Accordingly, starting with 5,000 pilot schools this year, a total of 45,000 helmets will be distributed: 25,000 to elementary and middle schools by 2027 and 15,000 to high schools and special schools by 2028.

Helmets will be provided free of charge to students who complete safety training, and shared helmets will be made available at school bike racks. In addition, "Safety Classes" will be operated in cooperation with the National Police Agency and local governments to establish helmet use as a cultural norm. All helmets will be replaced every three years, and annual inspections will be conducted to address hygiene and damage issues.

Kwon stated, "Safety is not just a slogan, but an action and an investment," and pledged, "We will dramatically strengthen student safety infrastructure so that parents can confidently send their children to school."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.