Busan Office of Education Finalizes 2026 Budget at 5.5317 Trillion Won

Vision of "Together to the Future, Leading Busan Education"
Accelerating Free Education and Customized Support

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has finalized its special education budget for 2026, setting the vision of "Together to the Future, Leading Busan Education." The office plans to accelerate the implementation of key educational policies led by Superintendent Kim Seokjun, such as full free education at private kindergartens and customized student support.

The main budget for 2026, confirmed following a plenary session of the Busan Metropolitan Council on December 11, totals 5.5317 trillion won, an increase of 196.6 billion won (3.7%) compared to the previous year. The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has prioritized supporting all aspects of student growth, from guaranteeing basic academic skills to strengthening digital competencies, and systematically advancing educational innovation in its budget allocation.

To enhance educational welfare, an additional 44.2 billion won has been allocated for free education at private kindergartens, aiming to reduce the financial burden on parents and strengthen the public nature of early childhood education.

In addition, 1.8 billion won has been earmarked for providing gym uniforms to new middle school students, and 400 million won for supporting medical expenses for students vulnerable to health issues such as diabetes and incurable diseases. These measures are intended to reduce educational disparities and reinforce the foundation for universal educational welfare.

Support for academic achievement and narrowing learning gaps will also be expanded. A total of 13.4 billion won has been allocated to elementary and secondary academic improvement programs, and 4.4 billion won will be invested in step-by-step, customized learning support initiatives such as Jump-Up Winter School, math and science schools, and the establishment of self-directed learning environments in middle schools.

Efforts to systematically support students’ psychological and emotional well-being will be strengthened. A total of 2.3 billion won has been allocated to integrated, customized student support programs, establishing a sustainable support system connecting schools, education support offices, and the city education office. Based on this, the office plans to build a more comprehensive student-centered system for psychological, emotional, and safety support.

Furthermore, to promote marine education reflecting the unique characteristics of Busan, 4.9 billion won will be invested in developing the "Busan Marine and Future Textbook" and expanding educational content that enables students to learn about the marine environment in a more systematic way.

The office will also focus on establishing a foundation for digital transformation. A total of 1.8 billion won will be invested in introducing the Education Digital One Pass and AI cloud services, building a digital learning environment that systematically manages students’ learning records from elementary school admission to high school graduation. The operation of the AI assistant "PenGPT," officially launched in September, will be expanded to reduce teachers’ administrative workload and create a school work environment where teachers can focus more on teaching and student guidance.

In addition, to increase the stability of school operations, the office will raise school operating expenses by 8.27% compared to the previous year, reflecting rising prices. Various projects to improve the school educational environment and strengthen educational support functions will also continue, ensuring that students and staff can concentrate on educational activities in a safe and pleasant environment.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun stated, "We will systematically prepare an execution plan linked to the curriculum so that the 2026 budget, which has now been finalized, can be implemented smoothly in schools. We will do our utmost to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated in a timely and appropriate manner to achieve tangible results."

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education

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