Yeoncheon County Selected as Education Innovation Pilot Region by Education Ministry... Only Type 1 Region in Gyeonggi Province

About 1.9 billion won in funding expected next year
Expanding learning opportunities at small schools through joint curricula and education shuttle buses

Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province has been selected as a candidate for designation as a 2027 Education Innovation Pilot Region by the Ministry of Education. It was the only region in Gyeonggi Province selected under Type 1, which targets areas with declining populations.

Education officials and other stakeholders in Yeoncheon County pose for a commemorative photo holding signs that read “Yeoncheon-Style Education Innovation Pilot Area” and “Yeoncheon Small Schools.” Provided by Yeoncheon County.

Yeoncheon County said on November 3 that starting next year, it will pursue locally tailored education innovation projects, including sharing educational resources among schools and operating joint curricula.

A total of 130 regions nationwide applied for the program, and 43 were selected. Under Type 1, which includes Yeoncheon County, 32 of the 89 applicant regions were selected. The program aims to build local education ecosystems through cooperation among schools in response to a declining school-age population and a rise in small schools.

Selected regions will receive up to 2 billion won in project funding per year. Yeoncheon County is expected to receive approximately 1.9 billion won next year. The initial funding period is three years, and the project can run for up to five years if the county receives an additional two years of support following a phased evaluation.

With “Yeoncheon All-ZERO 15, Secure Settlement” as its vision, the county plans to focus on reducing the outflow of talent, interruptions in growth, and learning gaps. It will expand the sharing of educational resources among schools and improve educational conditions at small schools so that students can access a variety of educational opportunities regardless of school size.

The key is linking joint curricula across different areas with education shuttle buses. The county plans to broaden students’ educational experiences by supporting travel between schools and strengthen a growth-support system that extends from early childhood through high school. It will also expand learning and career support for students moving from middle school to high school.

The county will expand curricula that draw on Yeoncheon’s natural environment, history and culture, and local industries. It plans to strengthen cooperation between schools and the community so that students’ diverse growth experiences lead to scholarships, career opportunities, employment, and settlement in the region.

The county and the Yeoncheon Office of Education agreed to work together according to each institution’s role, including supporting curriculum and school operations and improving educational transportation, care, and settlement conditions. They will refine the implementation plan through expert consultations by December this year and launch the project in earnest in January next year.

Yeoncheon County Governor Kim Deok-hyeon said, “This selection will provide an opportunity to further advance the foundation for education innovation that Yeoncheon County and the Yeoncheon Office of Education have built together. We will work with the community to create a sustainable educational environment so that children do not have to leave the region for their education, and can learn, grow, and plan for their futures in Yeoncheon.”

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