[6.3 Election] Lee Jeongseon Says "Mixed Reviews on Smart Device Supply Project in Gwangju and Jeonnam"

Gwangju Launches Six-Year Long-Term A/S Support Center

Jeonnam Faces Allegations of Preferential Treatment for Certain Companies

"Field Utilization and After-Sales Management Systems are Crucial"

The project to supply smart devices for AI future education, promoted by the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education and the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, is receiving mixed reviews in the field.

Jeongseon Lee, Candidate for Superintendent of Education of Gwangju-Jeonnam Integration. Provided by Candidate Jeongseon Lee

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education shifted the project direction from tablet-centered devices to Samsung Galaxy Book series laptops in response to field feedback.

For incoming middle school students in the 2025–2026 academic years, the office provided high-end devices equivalent to the 'Galaxy Book4 360,' which support screen rotation, touch, and a dedicated pen.

Additionally, the office established a comprehensive after-sales support system, including a six-year long-term A/S support center, installation of unmanned lockers in schools, and a 24-hour chatbot consultation system. In contrast, during the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education’s 2024 tablet supply project worth approximately KRW 150 billion, controversies arose over disqualification in the bidding process and allegations of preferential treatment for certain companies.

The KT consortium, which ranked first in the fair bidding process, was disqualified, and there were claims that the education office demanded additional conditions not specified in the request for proposal.

Concerns were also raised about the performance of Chinese-made tablets, problems with integration into the Ministry of Education’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) system, and a lack of on-site utilization and management systems. In Jeonnam, where there is a high proportion of rural and remote schools, after-sales service accessibility and maintenance systems were deemed insufficient.

Within the Jeonnam provincial council and the educational field, criticism emerged questioning whether the project was inadequately prepared from the beginning. Some raised strong suspicions of favoritism towards the second-ranked company, while field reports pointed out that "although devices were distributed, there is no system for utilizing them," and "many tablets are left unused in classrooms."

In response, Jeongseon Lee, Candidate for Superintendent of Integrated Education in Gwangju, Jeonnam, pledged to establish a practical AI education system including a data-driven 'One Student, One AI Tutor,' an AI administrative assistant called 'EduAI,' the creation of regional AI education hubs, and the establishment of AI and mobility specialized Meister high schools.

Lee’s team emphasized the importance of managing AI devices through a personalized learning data management system for each student and building regional AI infrastructure.

They also stressed the necessity of building an AI education platform that connects not only the number of devices distributed, but also each student’s learning, career path, and safety.

Candidate Jeongseon Lee stated, "While Gwangju has managed to create relatively stable operational cases, Jeonnam has repeatedly faced administrative confusion and insufficient on-site management. In the era of integrated education between Jeonnam and Gwangju, transparency, practical field utilization, and after-sales management systems will become more important than simply increasing budget allocations."

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