Superintendent Kim Daejung: "If 1.8 Trillion Won in Subsidies Are Cut, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Education Will Halt"

"Only Authority Granted, but Budget Slashed"
Superintendents Directly Oppose Subsidy Reform Plan

Attending National Assembly Press Conference
Joint Response with 16 City and Provincial Education Offices

Budget Directors’ Meeting Boycott
"We Will Not Tolerate Erosion of Educational Autonomy"

Kim Daejung, Superintendent of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan Office of Education, has expressed strong concerns regarding the government's initiative to revise the local education subsidy system and has strongly urged the retention of the current system, which links subsidies to domestic tax revenue.

On August 25, Superintendent Kim personally attended an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly's Communication Center and, together with superintendents from 16 cities and provinces nationwide, announced a statement of "Absolute Opposition to the Local Education Finance Reform."

Superintendent Kim Daejung personally attended an emergency press conference held by the Korea Council of Superintendents on the 25th, where he, along with superintendents from 16 cities and provinces nationwide, issued a "Declaration of Absolute Opposition to Local Education Finance Reform." Provided by the Korea Council of Superintendents

Prior to this, on August 22, Superintendent Kim also posted on his personal social media account, "Although the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City has expanded autonomy and educational exceptions, it will be difficult to fully utilize the powers granted by the special law if the financial foundation for realizing these is undermined," directly criticizing the government’s reform proposal.

According to an analysis by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Office of Education, if the government’s reform proposal is implemented, next year’s increase in the subsidy will drop sharply from about 2 trillion won under the current system to around 200 billion won. Compared to the current system, this would mean a reduction in fiscal revenue of as much as 1.8315 trillion won.

Superintendent Kim pointed out, "Since the launch of the integrated education office, there is enormous financial demand for future-oriented education, such as investments in AI and digital education, basic academic skills guarantees, and student-customized education, as well as for connecting the educational administration systems of the two regions." He emphasized, "Even if the student population decreases, essential expenditures—such as basic operating expenses, teacher personnel costs, and facility safety management costs—will continue to occur."

At the National Assembly press conference, Superintendent Kim and the city and provincial superintendents urged the government, through their statement, to: ▲ Strictly maintain the current 20.79% link to domestic taxes; ▲ Immediately halt any unilateral system reform that excludes city and provincial superintendents and establish an official consultative body; and ▲ Immediately withdraw the one-sided subsidy reform plan. In addition, as the first step in demonstrating their resolve, the Council of Superintendents decided to boycott the 'City and Provincial Education Office Budget Directors’ Meeting' scheduled for that day in its entirety.

The Council stated, "This is a clear warning against the government’s unilateral policy drive, which treats city and provincial superintendents not as parties to policy decisions but merely as implementing agencies," and added, "We will mount a strong, united response in solidarity with 354 education-related organizations nationwide, as well as teachers, parents, and civil society."

Superintendent Kim emphasized, "Now, the discussion will move to the National Assembly," and added, "I will continue to closely communicate with local lawmakers, the National Assembly's Education Committee, and the Council of Superintendents and ensure that the new powers for Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City education will translate into tangible changes by conveying the voices from the field to the very end."

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