'Relief Pitcher' Yang Horyong Appointed as Director of Career Education to Revitalize College Admissions in Jeonnam and Gwangju

Return of the Policy Control Tower Behind the "Glocal Campus" Project
Innovating Customized Career and College Guidance
By Bridging Theory and Practice

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Metropolitan Office of Education has appointed Yang Ho-ryong, a "policy expert," as the new head of the Career Education Department to boost the competitive edge of local general high schools in the university entrance process. As the policy planner who drew up the blueprint for Jeonnam's public education career and admissions system returns as the control tower, a sweeping innovation drive is expected to take place across the general high school curriculum in the region.

According to the Integrated Office of Education on August 10, newly appointed director Yang Ho-ryong will begin his term on September 1, taking on the important mission of strengthening the university entrance competitiveness of general high school students in the region.

Yang Ho-ryong, the new head of the Career Education Department.

Starting as a curriculum supervisor at the Muan Office of Education and later serving as a curriculum supervisor at the provincial office, principal of Muan Samho High School, and then as a curriculum director in the Career Education Department at the provincial office, he is widely recognized as the "architect of career and admissions policy" in the regional education sector.

In particular, Director Yang was the key figure who personally planned and developed the innovative "Glocal Campus" curriculum, which links local industries and universities to provide customized career and admissions programs for students at general high schools.

The challenges ahead for Director Yang are by no means easy. General high schools in the Jeonnam and Gwangju regions have long been criticized for their university entrance records and competitive edge, which fall far short compared to the Seoul metropolitan area.

With the rising dependence of local students on private tutoring, the most urgent task is to dispel the widespread sense of crisis in the field that "public education alone cannot keep pace with the changing admissions system."

To address these issues, Director Yang plans to focus administrative resources immediately upon taking office on establishing a constant career and admissions consulting system within public education and revitalize career-linked programs connecting local communities, industries, and academia.

Building on the practical experience gained from leading schools on the ground and heading policy divisions as a director, he aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice. By using the success of the "Glocal Campus" he designed as a foundation, he intends to further advance the customized career and admissions system for general high schools.

However, securing the resources needed for effective implementation remains a hurdle. Visible results will only be possible if not only bold budget support is provided at the education office level, but also if voluntary participation from schools, organic cooperation with local universities, and alignment with the industrial sector are ensured simultaneously. Additionally, responding quickly to significant changes in national education policy, such as the government's overhaul of the university entrance exam system, is essential.

A source from the regional education community commented, "For some time, there has been disappointment in terms of policy continuity, as the key figure behind Jeonnam's career policy remained in the position of a school principal. Although this personnel move may feel somewhat overdue, Director Yang's return—fully versed in both theory and practice—is expected to become a significant turning point that will reshape entrance education in Jeonnam and Gwangju."

Meanwhile, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special Metropolitan Office of Education finalized major personnel appointments for secondary education policy on the afternoon of August 10 and will now begin full-scale preparations for the new semester next month.

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