Busan Education Office Selected for Education Innovation Leading Region Program... to Build Models in 5 Districts

Featured as an exemplary case in the Ministry of Education's evaluation

Included among 11 selected regions nationwide

Busan will receive government support for an education innovation model that improves educational conditions at small schools and connects local characteristics with the curriculum.

The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education announced on November 3 that Busan had been selected for the Ministry of Education-led “Education Innovation Leading Region” program. The application was jointly submitted by Busan, Jung-gu, Dong-gu, Seo-gu, Yeongdo-gu, and Geumjeong-gu.

Busan was also highlighted as an exemplary case in the Ministry of Education’s evaluation of Type 2 Education Innovation Leading Regions (metropolitan cities). It received high marks for presenting an education model that links innovation at small schools to local settlement, through initiatives including joint curricula across small schools, improvements to school structures, the development of care and after-school systems, and connections between locally specialized education and career and college pathways.

A total of 41 regions nationwide applied for the Type 2 program, and 11 were selected. Three of the selected regions are metropolitan cities, including Busan. Each selected region will receive KRW 4 billion in special grants annually, with approximately KRW 3.7 billion earmarked for 2027. The program will run for three years, after which regions may receive up to two additional years of support following a performance evaluation.

The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education plans to focus on five districts where population decline and the shrinking size of schools are particularly pronounced, helping students access a range of educational opportunities regardless of school size or where they live.

The initiative’s vision is “Learning That Connects the Region, Busan Education Innovation We Create Together.” Its central goal is to connect local resources, including universities, industry, and culture, with school education. The plan aims to turn the regional challenges caused by population decline into an opportunity for education innovation and to develop education models that reflect the characteristics of each area.

First, the “Small School BIG3 Innovation” initiative will establish joint curricula across schools while also pursuing improvements to school structures, recruiting excellent teachers, and providing administrative support. The “Busan-style Ondolbang” project will create a care and after-school system connecting schools and communities. Through “Glocal Jump Up,” the initiative will foster the linguistic and cultural strengths of students from immigrant backgrounds while expanding global learning opportunities for students from disadvantaged groups.

Curricula reflecting the characteristics of each district will also be developed. Through the “Infinite Growth Campus” initiative, the strengths of each district will be integrated into students’ curricula, with a focus on global affairs and tourism in Jung-gu; port logistics and history in Dong-gu; medicine and health in Seo-gu; marine studies in Yeongdo-gu; and ecology and AI in Geumjeong-gu.

Programs will also support each student’s career plans and growth pathway. The “Busan Growth Navigator” will develop tailored pathways for students at general and vocational high schools, as well as young people outside the school system. The “Autonomous Public High School 2.0 Open School” program will allow individual schools to share their specialized curricula with local middle and high school students.

Starting in 2027, the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education will work with the Busan Metropolitan Government, the five districts, offices of education, universities, and businesses to build education innovation models in each area step by step. It also plans to expand opportunities for students from other regions to participate in successful programs.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun said, “Education innovation can only be realized when the local community—including local governments, universities, and businesses—joins forces with the education office. We will bring together the region’s capabilities to present a new model for education innovation and create an educational environment where children born in Busan can learn and grow in Busan and build their futures here.”

Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education

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