Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education drafts next year's 6.979 trillion won budget ... First budget under Superintendent Kwon Soonki

The Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education has drawn up a 2027 budget proposal for its Special Account for Educational Expenses totaling 6.979 trillion won.

This is the first main budget to reflect the policy direction of Superintendent of Education Kwon Soonki since he took office, and is 373.2 billion won higher than this year's budget.

Revenue comprises 6.1393 trillion won in transfers from the central government, 731.1 billion won in transfers from local governments and other sources, 8.6 billion won in self-generated revenue, 50 billion won in surplus funds carried forward from the previous year, and 50 billion won transferred from funds.

Expenditures include 4.3421 trillion won for personnel costs, 634.3 billion won for school and institutional operating expenses, 1.2707 trillion won for education programs, 631.8 billion won for facility projects, 73.7 billion won for repayments on public-private partnership projects, and 26.4 billion won in contingency funds.

The provincial education office forecast greater uncertainty in education finances due to discussions on reforming local education finance, including abolishing the current system of calculating local education finance grants based on 20.79% of total national tax revenue; the sunset of the tobacco consumption tax component of the local education tax; and a reduction in the national government's share of the cost of free high school education.

In response, it prioritized securing essential expenses, including personnel costs that could not be included in this year's budget, and focused funding on programs needed for students' educational activities and at schools.

After reviewing existing programs across the board, it restructured spending by addressing programs with poor execution records or those that were similar or overlapping, and adjusting the timing of some projects. It covered the funding shortfall by drawing 50 billion won from the Integrated Fiscal Stabilization Fund.

Gyeongnam Office of Education. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

The provincial education office said it drafted the budget proposal with a focus on personalized education for students and strengthening future-oriented education, expanding education and care support, creating safe schools, and strengthening cooperation between schools and local communities.

The proposal allocates funding in line with five policy priorities: ▲Gyeongsangnam-do education that nurtures talent; ▲Gyeongsangnam-do education that makes it a good place to raise children; ▲Gyeongsangnam-do education that takes responsibility for the future; ▲Gyeongsangnam-do education where everyone can thrive; and ▲Gyeongsangnam-do education that leads regional growth.

By sector, 34.1 billion won was allocated to guarantee basic academic skills and strengthen future-oriented education.

The allocation includes 1.3 billion won for an elementary school academic achievement jump-start project, 7.1 billion won for operating Dodeurim Schools, 7.1 billion won for basic academic skills instructors, 2.4 billion won for learning support clinic centers, 1.8 billion won for operating Gyeongnam-style study cafes, 400 million won for International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, 500 million won for 100-hour intensive math and science camps, and 300 million won for student-led overseas backpacking trips.

Another 41.7 billion won was allocated for AI- and digital-based future education, including 5.9 billion won to build AI digital education infrastructure and 3.8 billion won to provide customizable and subscription-based AI digital packages.

A total of 163.7 billion won was allocated to ease the burden of education costs and expand education and welfare services.

The allocation includes 19.8 billion won for education benefits, 23.5 billion won to support the purchase of uniforms and gym clothes for new students, 19.2 billion won in education cost assistance for families with multiple children, 20.7 billion won for weekday lunch support during the school term for children from low-income families on Saturdays and public holidays, and 2.7 billion won for Gyeongnam EduCare support.

A total of 311.4 billion won will be spent on strengthening the public role of early childhood education and support for special education.

The allocation includes 218.8 billion won for the Nuri Curriculum, 22.6 billion won to support free education at private kindergartens, 24.3 billion won to improve the educational capacity of private kindergartens, 31.5 billion won for special education welfare support—including 11.9 billion won for after-school special education and 9.4 billion won for treatment support—and 8.4 billion won for special education operations.

A total of 50.4 billion won was allocated to expand after-school programs and care services.

The budget includes 6.1 billion won to build and operate elementary school care centers, 3.6 billion won for customized programs for first- and second-grade elementary school students, 12.1 billion won to expand elementary school after-school program vouchers to third- and fourth-grade students, 8.5 billion won for after-school free course vouchers for low-income families, 9.9 billion won to provide healthy lunch boxes during school vacations, and 1 billion won for a real-time location-sharing service.

To address the population decline crisis and expand regional education infrastructure, the proposal allocates 200 million won for the Gyeongnam K-Culture International School, 12.9 billion won for the tentatively named Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education Ecological and Environmental Education Center, 2.1 billion won to help sustain small schools through the operation of Gyeongnam joint schools and the Gyeongnam rural student exchange program, 1.7 billion won for Gyeongnam community schools and regional hub centers, and 600 million won for a project to promote regional education innovation.

To create a safe and healthy educational environment and support the growth of the education community, the proposal allocates 1.3 billion won for programs including student mental health services and mental wellness support; 2.4 billion won for the 118 one-stop service for protecting teachers' rights; 200 million won for online parent education; 100 million won for multicultural parent schools; and 100 million won to operate the Education Link Center for retired education staff.

In addition, a separate 320 billion won was allocated to improve aging school facilities and create a safe and pleasant educational environment, including 27 billion won for school restroom improvements, 45.9 billion won for school meal facilities, and 247.1 billion won for improvements to aging school facilities.

Superintendent Kwon Soonki said, "We will restore the essence of education by building basic academic skills and character education, and develop the capabilities needed in future society through AI and digital education. We will support students' growth and build Gyeongsangnam-do education that prepares for the future together with schools and local communities."

The budget proposal will undergo a preliminary review by the provincial council's Education Committee and a comprehensive review by its Budget and Accounts Special Committee from November 30 to December 11, before a final vote at a plenary session on December 15, 2026.

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