Siheung City Signs 'Barrier Breaking' Agreement with Gyeonggi Office of Education...Breaking Down the Divide Between Educational and General Administration

The Only City Among 31 in the Province to Present Outstanding Cases of Educational Autonomy
Joint Promotion of 10 Core Initiatives, Including Phone-Free Culture and Character Education

Siheung City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Byungtaek Lim, has joined hands with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Siheung Office of Education to promote collaborative efforts that break down the barriers between educational administration and general administration.

Im Byung-taek, mayor of Siheung City, is presenting the achievements of educational autonomy and cases of mutual cooperation in Siheung City at the 'Wall Breaking Agreement Ceremony' held on the 9th at Wondong Elementary School in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province. Provided by Siheung City

On September 9, Siheung City attended the "Barrier Breaking Agreement Ceremony" held at the Sports Center of Wondong Elementary School in Osan City, where it declared a shared vision and signed an agreement to expand educational cooperation.

This event was organized as part of the "Great Educational Transformation of Gyeonggi," a policy initiative spearheaded by Superintendent Minseok Ahn to break down the barriers between educational administration and general administration. Representatives from 31 cities and counties and 25 local education offices in the province declared a joint vision and established collaborative frameworks by region.

The event was attended by Superintendent Minseok Ahn, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Education Choi Kyojin, as well as heads of local governments, education superintendents from regional education offices, members of the National Assembly, and members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council.

Of the 31 cities and counties in the province, Siheung City was the only local government selected to present excellent cases of educational autonomy. Mayor Byungtaek Lim introduced the Siheung-style educational autonomy model, which has been built collaboratively between the community and schools over the past 16 years.

Among the key cases highlighted were: projects that expanded village education communities into designated special education zones through cooperation between schools and neighborhoods; the "Neonadeuri" school-complex facility initiative, which removes school fences to share space with community residents; and customized career education programs in partnership with local universities and industries.

With this agreement, the city—together with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Siheung Office of Education—will pursue ten core initiatives: promoting a Phone-Free culture; vitalizing the Siheung-style RAS (Reading, Arts, Sports) character education; sharing infrastructure between schools and local communities; establishing multicultural education models; and jointly developing a blueprint for future education, among others.

They plan to implement these initiatives step by step, starting with projects that have a strong impact on the school field, and will further refine detailed action plans through regular working-level consultations until August 2031.

Officials from 31 cities and counties in the province who attended the Wall Breaking Agreement Ceremony are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Siheung City.

Mayor Byungtaek Lim said, "Over the past 16 years, we have developed an education autonomy model recognized nationwide through the Happy Education Support Center, Village Education Autonomy Council, and Village Education Hub Center. Building on this cooperation, we will further advance the educational ecosystem where schools and the community grow together."

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