[6.3 Election] First in 40 Years... Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Superintendent Race Heats Up with Five Candidates

Incumbent Superintendents Face Off as KTU, KFTA, and Former Supervisors Enter the Race
Focus Intensifies on Inaugural Leader to Tackle Regional Decline and Bridge Educational Gaps

On June 3, the 9th nationwide local elections will take place, and for the first time in 40 years, a superintendent of education will be elected for the newly unified Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City. The original list of 10 preliminary candidates has been narrowed down to five through consolidation within political camps: Kim Daejung, Lee Jungseon, Jang Ganho, Kang Sukyoung, and Choi Daewook.

With the pressing tasks of overcoming the risk of regional extinction and closing the educational gap between the two regions, each candidate is intensifying their campaign for the position of inaugural superintendent of the integrated education office, which launches on July 1. Each is presenting their unique educational vision and distinctive pledges to win over voters.

(from the left) Kim Daejung, Lee Jeongseon, Jang Gwanho, Kang Sookyung, Choi Daewook, preliminary candidates. Provided by candidate side

Kim Daejung: "Building a K-Education Special City... Expanding Student Education Allowances" vs. Lee Jungseon: "Reviving Education Is Key to Reviving the Region"

Kim Daejung, the current superintendent of Jeonnam Office of Education, has declared his candidacy with a vision to make Jeonnam and Gwangju the hub of educational innovation in Korea, branding it as the K-Education Special City. He has announced a paradigm shift from achievement-centered to growth-centered education, aiming to establish a "student lifecycle responsibility education" system in which public education takes responsibility for everything from basic academic skills to employment and entrepreneurship.

His major pledges include: ▲ Establishing the (tentative) Jeonnam-Gwangju Curriculum Development and Evaluation Institute ▲ Building an AI-based college admissions analysis and one-on-one personalized counseling system ▲ Creating an AI-Energy Education Valley in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation and others ▲ Preparing employment tracks linking specialized high schools, local universities, and companies ▲ Setting up a new eastern office for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City Office of Education ▲ Expanding student education allowances to the Gwangju area.

Lee Jungseon, the current superintendent of Gwangju Office of Education, is championing an "upward standardization strategy," which combines Gwangju’s proven college admissions system with Jeonnam’s abundant educational resources. He has identified three key tasks: improving basic academic skills, fostering future talent, and ensuring inclusive educational welfare.

Specifically, he promises: ▲ Establishing a new industry talent safety belt ▲ Supporting the reinvestment of educational assets ▲ Creating a smart education office in the eastern region ▲ Nurturing 10 prestigious high schools near students’ homes ▲ Establishing the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Education Institute ▲ Supporting the "Our Children 1000 Dream Fund."

Jang Ganho: "Replacing Old Forces" vs. Kang Sukyoung and Choi Daewook: "Restoring the Basics and Character in Education"

Jang Ganho, former head of the Jeonnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, has declared that "old forces cannot handle the new special city education," and promised a strong renewal by launching "360-degree education where everyone excels" and "customized education where everyone shines" in Jeonnam-Gwangju.

His key pledges include: ▲ Providing a basic education allowance of 1.2 million won per year ▲ Introducing an education transportation PASS ▲ Implementing a full responsibility system for basic academic skills ▲ Alleviating parental concerns ▲ Protecting the dignity of teaching staff ▲ Introducing a "one strike out" policy for educational corruption.

Kang Sukyoung, a former superintendent at the Jeonnam Office of Education, has emphasized that "education based on sound fundamentals is more important than anything else," proposing a bold overhaul of the school system. Kang’s pledges include: ▲ Operating a Jeonnam-Gwangju style five-day after-school care classroom ▲ Overhauling the school system to a "5-4-3" model, the first in the nation ▲ Establishing a Jeonnam-Gwangju style educational broadcast station to fundamentally transform education.

Choi Daewook, former vice president of the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, has stressed the need to "restore character education in classrooms," focusing on establishing teacher authority and normalizing public education. His major pledges target conservative voters and include: ▲ Introducing a limited disciplinary system ▲ Addressing private education issues by operating nighttime remedial and advanced classes in schools ▲ Realizing a Jeonnam-Gwangju ‘Edutopia.’

Superintendent Elections Without Candidate Numbers: Voters Must Scrutinize Pledges Carefully

To preserve the political neutrality of education, political parties do not nominate candidates for the superintendent elections, and only the candidates' names, arranged in a cross pattern, appear on the ballot paper without any numbers.

Because party membership is prohibited, there are concerns about the so-called "blind election." Therefore, it is more important than ever for voters to thoroughly compare and scrutinize each candidate's policies and core pledges.

The inaugural superintendent of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan City will bear the heavy responsibility of uniting the two regions and outlining a blueprint for a "new century of unity through education." As this election is held amid a historic administrative integration after 40 years, there is heightened attention as to where the votes of Gwangju and Jeonnam citizens will go.

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