Yangju City Reaches Peak Momentum in Educational Innovation... Full-Scale Realization of “Future-Oriented Education City” Vision

Yangju City, “Leading the Educational Development Special Zone” and “Completing the IB System”
Advancing as a Future Education City with a Two-Track Strategy
Green Light for New Okjeong No. 4 Middle School and Promotion to Special Zone
“Education Equals Urban Competitiveness”... Building an Innovative Ecosystem

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kang Suhyun) is seeing a series of tangible achievements in key issues related to expanding educational infrastructure and strengthening regional educational competitiveness, officially launching its drive to become a “Future-Oriented Education City.” With major milestones such as passing the central investment review for the Second Gyeonggi School Arts Creation Center and being selected for school complex facilities and self-directed learning center projects, the city is going beyond simple facility expansion to reinforce a foundation for a city where both students and citizens can grow together.

According to Yangju City on November 18, the city is realizing a structural change in which education becomes both the city’s competitiveness and the citizens’ asset, transforming into “a city people gather to for education, not leave because of it.”

Mayor Kang Suhyun discussing the designation of Yangju City as a pilot project for educational development special zones. Provided by Yangju City

Green Light for New Middle School in Okjeong District, Improvements Expected in Commuting Conditions

As part of the Okjeong New Town’s central and mixed-use development plan, the proposal to establish “Okjeong No. 4 Middle School” (tentative name) is scheduled to be submitted to the Ministry of Education’s central investment review next year.

If approved, the project will be launched in earnest with the goal of opening in 2030, marking a turning point for improving the learning environment for students in the southern Okjeong area who have struggled with long commutes, as well as responding to the rapidly increasing student population.

The city plans to work closely with the Office of Education to ensure balanced school placement and create a safe learning environment.

The Second Gyeonggi School Arts Creation Center, to be built on the site of the former Cheonbo Elementary School in Okjeong-dong, will be established as a complex cultural space with a total investment of 28.4 billion won, featuring a performance hall, gallery, and arts education rooms.

The city and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education will each contribute 9.4 billion won to construction costs, with the Office of Education providing the site. The creation center is expected to serve as a hub for student arts education and citizen cultural enjoyment.

Following conditional approval from the central investment review, the city plans to faithfully address supplementary tasks such as securing professional arts instructors and detailing resident participation programs, aiming to develop the center into a national model case.

Ganap Elementary School in Gwangjeok-myeon was selected for the Ministry of Education’s “2025 School Complex Facility Second Project,” securing 1.796 billion won in national funding.

The facility, to be built as a three-story building with a total floor area of 1,380 square meters, will house indoor sports facilities, a regional care center, an edutech education center, an international education center, and a youth lounge, providing customized education and care services for all growth stages from preschoolers to elementary, middle, and high school students.

The city plans to use these efforts to address educational imbalances between the eastern and western regions and create a model for exemplary complex educational spaces.

Special Lecture by Education Development Zone Experts. Provided by Yangju City

Promotion to “Leading Region” in Educational Development Special Zone, Accelerating Innovation with Additional National Funding

Yangju City received an excellent evaluation in the Ministry of Education’s “2024 Educational Development Special Zone Pilot Area Performance Management Assessment,” resulting in its promotion from a managed area to a higher-level leading region.

With this promotion, Yangju City secured an additional 500 million won in national funding, which will significantly strengthen the momentum for educational special zone projects and further deepen and expand the Yangju-style educational innovation model.

The city aims to establish a mutually beneficial educational ecosystem involving schools, the Office of Education, parents, and the local community, positioning itself as a hub for future-oriented convergence education.

The Goeup Happy Housing Center was finally selected for the Ministry of Education’s “Self-Directed Learning Center Project.”

This center will enhance students’ self-directed learning capabilities and reduce reliance on private education through customized learning linked with EBS, university student mentoring, and learning coordinator coaching. By building a learning support system involving schools, families, and the local community, it is also expected to help close educational gaps.

In July, Yangju City opened the “Eastern Digital Competency Enhancement Center,” followed by the “Western Center” in September, to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

Both centers serve as open learning spaces for future technologies such as AI and coding, offering customized education for all generations from elementary students to adults. The city plans to use these centers to strengthen citizens’ digital skills and foster regional creative talent.

With Deokjeong High School obtaining International Baccalaureate (IB) World School certification, Yangju City has completed an IB-linked education system spanning all levels-elementary, middle, and high school-with Hyochon Elementary and Nammun Middle already certified.

Yangju City is the only local government in northern Gyeonggi Province to have IB certification at all levels. IB education is a global program that enhances creative thinking and inquiry skills. Since certification, Hyochon Elementary and Nammun Middle have seen positive changes such as increased student numbers and inflow from outside school districts.

Deokjeong High School is expected to become a future-oriented public high school with the competitiveness of a specialized high school by combining the IB curriculum with the Autonomous Public High School 2.0 program. Meanwhile, Okjeong High School and Deokgye High School have been designated as Gyeonggi-type science-focused schools, operating advanced science and mathematics curricula to strengthen students’ inquiry abilities and future core competencies.

IB World School Certification. Provided by Yangju City

A City Growing Through Education, Realizing Yangju’s Future

The city plans to further solidify its status as a global education city by expanding its educational innovation model based on IB certification, science-focused school designation, and the Autonomous Public High School 2.0 program.

The city’s successive educational achievements clearly demonstrate that Yangju is advancing toward a “future city where education and culture drive urban growth,” going beyond mere facility expansion.

Along with expanding educational infrastructure, the city is focusing its policy efforts on developing not only schools where students learn and grow, but also a lifelong learning-oriented educational city where citizens learn and share together.

A Yangju City official emphasized, “We are focusing our policy capabilities on making Yangju a future city where education and culture drive urban growth,” adding, “By strengthening the Yangju-style educational governance involving schools, the Office of Education, and the local community, we will create a sustainable educational city where children can pursue their dreams and citizens can grow together.”

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