"Withdraw the Grant Reform Plan"... Nationwide Superintendents Resolve in Yeosu

General Assembly of Superintendents' Council Held at Sono Calm Hotel in Yeosu
Superintendents From 16 Cities and Provinces... Strong Response to Government Budget Cuts
Presentation of ‘Education-Based Local Production and Consumption’ Model, School Violence Law Amendment Agenda Approved

The first nationwide assembly of city and provincial superintendents, hosted by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City Office of Education—which unified Jeollanam-do and Gwangju for the first time in 40 years—was successfully held in Yeosu.

Superintendents from across the country expressed deep concern over the government’s recent proposal to revise the allocation formula for local education financial grants. They officially resolved to build a strong and unified response to safeguard the stability of public education.

The Korea Council of Educational Superintendents held its 109th General Assembly on the 17th at Sono Calm Hotel in Yeosu, administered by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City. This was the first nationwide event organized by the Office of Education since the administrative merger of Jeonnam and Gwangju in July. More than 200 participants attended, including the superintendents from all cities and provinces, officials from various offices of education, and council representatives.

The Korean Council of Superintendents held the '109th General Assembly' on the 17th at the Sono Calm Hotel in Yeosu, Gwangju, Jeonnam. Provided by the Korean Council of Superintendents

"Grants Must Not Be Reduced Solely Because of Falling Student Numbers"... Unified Stance on the Grant Reform Plan

The main issue on the agenda for this assembly was the government’s ongoing “response to the reform of the local educational financial grant system.” The superintendents reviewed the outcomes of the National Assembly press conference and education committee public hearing held the previous day, and reached a shared recognition that should the proposed revision be implemented, it would inflict tangible and serious damage on the educational finances of each local government.

The council pointed out issues with the “35% student number” basis included in the government’s formula and resolved to submit a formal written opinion, developed in communication with educators in the field, to the National Assembly. They also succeeded in having additional requests delivered to the government: explicitly specifying support for primary and secondary education within the Future Response Fund’s Education Talent Account, and making review by the National Assembly’s education committee mandatory.

However, the council stated, “While confirmation of the National Assembly’s intention to undertake a thorough review is significant progress, there remains a considerable risk that the bill could be tabled and passed without sufficient deliberation due to delays in the review process,” foreshadowing a cautious and continuous response.

On the day, Kim Daejung, Superintendent of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Office of Education, expressed strong concern about the moves toward budget reduction. Superintendent Kim emphasized, “Although the number of students may decrease, the quality of education and the public effort devoted to each child must never be diminished.” He continued, “In an era of declining school-age population, it is all the more important to create a thorough and high-quality future-oriented educational environment so that not a single child is left behind.”

Geun Sik Jung, chairman of the council, also vowed, “We will actively respond so that this revision of the local education financial grant system is not pushed through unilaterally by the government.” He added, “This general assembly will serve as an opportunity to solidify solidarity and cooperation among all 16 city and provincial offices of education nationwide.”

Geun-Sik Jeong, Chairman of the Korean Council of Education Superintendents.

Presenting the Future Vision of a ‘K-Education Special City’… Partnerships With Seoul and Jeonbuk for ‘AI Assessment’

The event featured a presentation of innovative education best practices by the hosting Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City Office of Education, as well as the signing of several multilateral agreements.

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Office of Education introduced its flagship initiative under the theme “Establishing a Talent Cultivation System in the K-Education Special City.” Through education, the local government seeks to secure engines of future growth and proposed a model for a virtuous ecosystem in which young people study, find employment, and settle in their local communities—a “education-based local production and consumption” model—which drew attention from other regional superintendents.

Afterwards, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Office of Education entered into a “Business Agreement for the Joint Operation of an AI-Based Diagnostic and Assessment System” with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education. The three offices agreed to collaborate on the use of the AI system, while decisions regarding “what and how to ask” would be made autonomously at the school and classroom level, with the offices of education providing digital tools, teacher training, and general support.

This general assembly also emphasized key issues facing schools alongside the appointment of major policy cooperation bodies. The council recommended five members for the “Council on Autonomy in Education Policy,” which connects central and local governance on education policy: Geun Sik Jung (Superintendent, Seoul), Seokjun Kim (Superintendent, Busan), Seokjin Oh (Superintendent, Daejeon), Samyeong Kang (Superintendent, Gangwon), and Miae Kang (Superintendent, Sejong). In addition, Soonki Kwon (Superintendent, Gyeongnam) was elected as chair of the Special Committee on Local Education Finance to further strengthen responses to funding challenges.

The assembly also finalized key agenda items to address real-world problems, including enacting relevant legal amendments to normalize the application of school violence statutes to cases involving sexual violence, and making teacher placement criteria for special education more realistic.

Meanwhile, on September 18, the second day of the assembly, city and provincial superintendents plan to visit the Yeosu World Island Expo site to explore educational field trip opportunities linked to the region’s ecological and cultural assets. The next, 110th General Assembly, will be held on November 26, hosted by the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education.

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