Yoon, Ahead of Education Development Zone Designation, Says "We Must Revitalize Regions Through Public Education Innovation"

Government to Announce Pilot Areas for Education Development Zones in March
Active Support for Regional Integrated Childcare and Neulbom Schools
Yoon: "Revitalizing Regions through Public Education Activation"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 21st, "Revitalizing local communities through public education is expected to be an opportunity to restore regional vitality." This reflects the intention to boost the local economy through the activation of public education ahead of the announcement of the first pilot areas for the Education Development Special Zones, a core policy for realizing the era of local autonomy.

According to the Presidential Office on the day, President Yoon said, "There must be various local revitalization plans that reflect the unique characteristics of each region," adding, "In particular, the Education Development Special Zones will serve as an opportunity to restore regional vitality through the activation of public education tailored to local characteristics."

The Education Development Special Zones system allows each region to autonomously establish educational policies desired by residents, supporting access to quality education from early childhood through elementary, secondary, and university levels. The Presidential Commission on the Era of Local Autonomy and the Ministry of Education are driving this initiative, with cooperation from local governments, education offices, universities, industries, and public institutions.

Through the Education Development Special Zones, the government is ensuring that quality education desired by the public is delivered in a regionally customized manner. Currently, each province and city is preparing various education development strategies considering local circumstances and characteristics. To create a "child-friendly environment," active support is being provided for the integration of kindergartens and daycare centers and for Neulbom Schools. To establish a "regional talent retention system," integrated education from elementary to university levels linked with local industry and job policies is being reviewed, along with plans to nurture local talent through this system.

From late November to January this year, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, visited provinces and cities nationwide to hold "meetings to support region-led educational innovation" with metropolitan governors, superintendents of education, and university presidents. They discussed regional education innovation models jointly developed by the central government and local areas.

Especially this year, to discover various regional models driving local development, the designation of pilot areas for the Education Development Special Zones will be promoted in two phases. The first phase application period is ongoing from December 11, 2023, to February 9, 2024. Local governments and superintendents of education across the country are expected to prepare and submit regional Education Development Special Zone plans together. The first phase of pilot area designation will be decided in early March after review and resolution by the Commission on the Era of Local Autonomy. The second phase will begin accepting applications from May, following the same process as the first phase, with designation scheduled for July. President Yoon emphasized, "The Education Development Special Zones will be a core policy for local talents to settle in their regions, and another will be the regional essential medical package."

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