Ulsan Office of Education to Steadily Promote Free High School Education

Utilization of Education Finance Stabilization Fund and Others in Case of Suspension of National Treasury Support

With the government budget support for free high school education next year not yet confirmed, the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Cheon Chang-su) plans to continue promoting free high school education even if national subsidies are discontinued.

Free high school education was introduced in 2019 and fully implemented from 2021. The budget required for free education, including admission fees, tuition fees, school operation support costs, and textbook expenses, is borne 47.5% each by the central government and metropolitan/provincial offices of education, with local governments covering 5%.

The budget for free education was temporarily supported by the government for five years until this year through a special provision added to the Local Education Finance Grant Act (Grant Act) at the time of its introduction.

The amendment to the Grant Act, which would extend the special provision for national funding support for free high school education by three years, was recently deferred in the plenary session of the National Assembly.

Although concerns have been raised that the uncertainty over the extension of national subsidy support for free high school education could increase the burden on students and parents, the Ulsan Office of Education plans to continue to demand national funding and promote free high school education stably.

The total budget for free high school education in Ulsan next year is 52.386 billion KRW. Approximately 312,79 high school students will receive about 1.67 million KRW per person annually.

If national funding is discontinued, the Ulsan Office of Education plans to secure the budget by utilizing the Education Finance Stabilization Fund and maintain free high school education stably through efficient budget management.

Superintendent Cheon Chang-su previously stated at a meeting with the chairpersons of the Gangbuk and Gangnam School Operation Committees, “Free high school education will be promoted without interruption, and resources will be adjusted according to the review results of the amendment to the Local Education Finance Grant Act.”

An official from the Ulsan Office of Education said, “Although it is difficult to secure the education budget due to the recent economic situation, we plan to continue promoting free high school education without interruption for the future of students,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to ensure that students receive quality education without discrimination.”

Ulsan Office of Education.

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