Oh Sukjin, Daejeon Education Superintendent Candidate, Vows to Eliminate Inequality Based on Social Class and Disability

Overcoming the Reality Where a Child's Future Is Determined by Economic Status and Area of Residence

O Seokjin, candidate for Daejeon Superintendent of Education (Photo by O Seokjin Campaign)

Oh Sukjin, candidate for Superintendent of Daejeon Education, stated, "I will work to eliminate educational inequality based on region, social class, or disability, and ensure that every student can grow without discrimination." He added, "I am determined to overcome the reality in which a child's future is determined by their parents' economic status or the area of Daejeon in which they live."

On May 18, Oh announced his ninth campaign pledge, the "Education Gap ZERO Project," emphasizing, "I will strengthen the responsibility of public education so that every child in Daejeon can enjoy equal educational opportunities regardless of their environment."

This project focuses on four key initiatives: reducing the educational gap between the eastern and western districts, expanding support for low-income and multicultural families, strengthening support for special education and students with disabilities, and providing AI-based customized educational welfare.

◆ Designation of Eastern Daejeon as a Global IB Special Zone

To address the educational gap between the east and west, Oh pledged to designate Dong-gu and Daedeok-gu as Global IB (International Baccalaureate) Special Zones.

He also proposed operating magnet schools—customized public schools where students can choose programs based on their talents, interests, and aptitudes—in these areas to enhance students' educational choices.

Plans include operating mobile science labs and study rooms for students in the old downtown area, allowing them to access high-quality education regardless of their location.

In particular, Oh expressed his commitment to providing future-oriented educational content connected to the advanced infrastructure of KAIST and Daedeok Innopolis, enabling students and parents to directly experience the transformation of their local education.

◆ Strengthening the Educational Safety Net so Parental Wealth Does Not Determine Academic Achievement

To prevent educational marginalization due to economic disparities, Oh plans to expand after-school learning vouchers and introduce an AI-based learning analysis system. This system will precisely diagnose students' basic academic abilities, and provide one-on-one teaching assistants to those in need, fundamentally addressing learning deficits.

He will also significantly increase the number of special education teachers and inclusive education support staff, and promote a barrier-free educational environment by providing customized assistive technology devices for students with disabilities.

◆ Establishing a 365-Day Educational Welfare Safety Net

The plan also includes building an AI-based educational welfare system utilizing Daejeon's scientific and technological capabilities. By integrating students' learning, care, and career data, the system will identify educational blind spots early and connect students to tailored support through a unified data platform.

Oh is pursuing an ambitious roadmap to provide more detailed support through AI for students at risk of dropping out, students with insufficient care, and those requiring special education.

Oh stated, "Education is an issue of opportunity before it is a matter of competition," promising, "We will create the most equitable educational city, where every child in Daejeon can fully realize their potential, overcoming the barriers of region, social class, and disability."

Meanwhile, Oh has served in the field of education for 40 years, including as a teacher at general middle and high schools, a science high school (Daejeon Science High School), and a specialized vocational high school (Chungnam Mechanical Technical High School), as well as a supervisor, principal, and Head of the Korean Education Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He later integrated his international perspective as Director of Education at the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, overseeing educational administration from kindergarten through elementary, middle, and high school.

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