Gyeongsangnam-do, Education Office Adjust School Meal Cost Shares for Next Year... Province, Cities and Counties 45%, Education Office 55%

Gyeongsangnam-do and the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education agreed on next year's per-meal food costs for school meals and how to share the funding burden, and decided to work together on key education issues.

Governor Park Wan-soo and Superintendent of Education Kwon Soon-ki held the regular meeting of the 2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administration Council in the provincial government conference room on Nov. 3.

At the meeting, they reached agreement on six items: adjusting the funding shares for school meal costs in 2027; increasing per-meal food costs for school meals; sharing the costs of the "Our Children's Healthy Lunchbox" program, which provides meals for children during school vacations; nurturing outstanding talent in partnership with local industries; revitalizing the School Commute Safety Council; and the education office's proposed 2027 expenditure budget for its special account for education expenses.

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo (right) and Superintendent of Education Kwon Soon-ki speak at the 2026 South Gyeongsang Province Education Administration Council. [Photo provided by South Gyeongsang Province]

Under the agreement, the cost of school meals, previously shared equally, will be divided next year, with the provincial and city and county governments covering 45% and the education office covering 55%.

The per-meal food cost for school meals will increase by 140 won, reflecting the 3.4% inflation rate in 2025.

The "Our Children's Healthy Lunchbox" program, which provides meals for children during school vacations, will continue to be funded in 2027 with the provincial and city and county governments covering 60% and the education office covering 40%.

The two institutions also agreed to work together to nurture outstanding talent in partnership with local industries.

The provincial government and the education office will form a joint task force to identify and nurture talent suited to the needs of local industries and establish a cooperative framework in which local education and industry grow together.

They also plan to strengthen the school commute safety management system by revitalizing the School Commute Safety Council, which includes the education office, local governments and police. The council will jointly identify hazards along school routes and pursue improvements to safety facilities suited to local conditions.

In addition, funds transferred from local governments' general accounts in 2027 will be included in the education office's special-account expenditure budget and allocated to operating public schools and improving educational environments.

Attendees at the 2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administrative Council, including Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo and Superintendent of Education Kwon Soon-gi, commemorate the agreement between the two institutions. [Photo courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do]

The regular meeting, the first held since the start of the ninth popularly elected administration, was attended by 13 officials from the two institutions, including co-chairs Governor Park Wan-soo and Superintendent of Education Kwon Soon-ki.

Governor Park and Superintendent Kwon finalized agreements on the six agenda items following preliminary working-level consultations and signed the agreement.

The Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administration Council is a cooperative body established under Article 41 of the Local Education Autonomy Act to jointly address key education issues and coordinate education projects between the provincial government and the education office. It holds a regular meeting each year.

Governor Park said, "The provincial government and the education office share the same goals, but their differing positions and circumstances must have made the consultation process challenging. I am pleased that we were able to reach an amicable agreement despite those difficulties, and I thank the officials from both institutions for their efforts."

He added, "The issue of finances is not about which institution bears more or less of the burden. What matters is working together so that residents receive tangible benefits. The education office and the provincial government are not separate from one another; both exist to serve the residents. We must work together to meet their expectations for education."

He also said, "Along with closing the education gap and improving education services, it is important to nurture talent suited to the region's characteristics and industrial needs, including through gifted schools and specialized high schools. The two institutions must continue to work closely together to meet residents' expectations for education."

Superintendent Kwon said, "I hope the Education Administration Council will go beyond simply discussing current issues and become a solid foundation for restoring the essence of Gyeongnam education and driving a major leap forward for the region. I will continue to work closely with Gyeongsangnam-do and do my utmost to realize an education system that opens up a bright future for our children."

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