"Up to 10 Billion Won Support per Special Zone"... 31 Pilot Areas Selected for Education Development Special Zones

31 out of 40 Application Areas Passed
9 Failed Areas to be Reassessed in May-June
Includes Neulbom School, Multicultural Education, etc.

The Ministry of Education announced 31 pilot areas for the first phase of the ‘Education Development Special Zones,’ which aim to foster local talent. These areas will undergo a three-year pilot operation period before the official designation is decided, and each special zone can receive up to 10 billion KRW in government support.

On the morning of the 28th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho held a press conference at the Government Seoul Office to reveal the results of the first phase designation of the Education Development Special Zones. The Education Development Special Zones are a core educational reform policy of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, introduced to improve the quality of local public education through cooperation between local governments, education offices, universities, industries, and other regional institutions. Once designated as a special zone, each zone will receive special grants ranging from 3 billion to 10 billion KRW and be subject to various regulatory exemptions.

Among basic local governments (Type 1), 20 out of 29 applications were selected, excluding 9. These include ▲Gyeonggi (Goyang, Yangju, Dongducheon, Ganghwa) ▲Gangwon (Chuncheon, Hwacheon, Wonju) ▲Chungbuk (Chungju, Jecheon, Okcheon, Jincheon-Eumseong, Goesan) ▲Chungnam (Seosan) ▲Gyeongbuk (Pohang, Gumi, Sangju, Chilgok, Uljin, Bonghwa) ▲Jeonnam (Gwangyang).

Among metropolitan local governments (Type 2), all six regions were selected: ▲Busan ▲Daegu ▲Gwangju ▲Daejeon ▲Ulsan ▲Jeju. In the basic local governments designated by metropolitan local governments (Type 3), all five regions were designated: ▲Chungnam (Asan) ▲Gyeongbuk (Andong-Yecheon) ▲Gyeongnam (Jinju, Sacheon, Goseong, Changwon, Gimhae, Yangsan, Geoje, Miryang) ▲Jeonbuk (Iksan, Namwon, Wanju, Muju, Buan) ▲Jeonnam (Naju, Mokpo, Muan, Sinan, Yeongam-Gangjin).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The nine areas that failed to be selected as pilot areas were classified as preliminary designated areas. These regions will be re-evaluated during the second round of applications by reflecting the improvements raised in the first designation evaluation. The second round of applications will be held from May 1 to June 30. The preliminary designated areas include ▲Gyeonggi (Yeoncheon, Paju, Pocheon) ▲Chungbuk (Boeun) ▲Chungnam (Nonsan, Buyeo) ▲Gyeongbuk (Ulleung) ▲Gyeongnam (Geochang) ▲Jeonnam (Haenam).

To manage the performance of the pilot areas, they plan to operate by dividing them into 19 leading areas and 12 managed areas. Leading areas will be officially designated as special zones after a comprehensive evaluation by the committee following the three-year pilot operation period.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee stated, "Through the Education Development Special Zones, we will actively promote the creation of a child-friendly environment, enhance school education capabilities through public education innovation, and foster local talent, thereby establishing favorable living conditions in the provinces and realizing the era of regional development."

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