Kwon Soonki, Gyeongnam Superintendent Candidate: "Geoje, a City Strong in Education and Ideal for Raising Children"

Kwon Soonki, the sole candidate representing the “Conservative and Centrist Gyeongnam Superintendent Candidate Unification Alliance,” has declared his educational vision to the 230,000 citizens of Geoje, pledging to create “a city strong in education and ideal for raising children.”

He presented a comprehensive strategy encompassing the entire educational cycle-from resolving overcrowded classrooms to addressing commuting, childcare, safety, and career guidance-with the determination to transform Geoje from a city people leave because of education to a city people seek out for its education.

Kwon Sunki, the preliminary candidate for Superintendent of Education in Gyeongnam Province, is announcing his campaign pledges at Geoje City Hall. [Photo by Kwon Sunki]

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On April 21 at the Geoje City Hall briefing room, Kwon held a press conference where he stressed the need for structural improvements, stating, “Even as the shipbuilding industry is poised for a resurgence, the educational environment children face remains marked by shortages, inconvenience, and anxiety.”

In particular, he identified four primary challenges for education in Geoje: overcrowded classrooms, long commutes, gaps in childcare, and student safety during commutes. He proposed “seven specialized educational pledges” as solutions to these issues.

First, he promised to ensure the smooth opening of the tentatively named Jangpyeong High School, scheduled for 2027, as children in the Sangmundong and Suyangdong areas currently suffer from long commutes due to a shortage of high schools.

At the same time, to quickly resolve overcrowded classrooms, he plans to introduce next-generation “advanced modular classrooms,” transforming existing spaces into multifunctional educational areas that support debate, clubs, and advanced learning.

To address commuting issues, he will introduce the “Geoje Edu-Line,” which will operate student-only circular buses connecting key hubs such as Gohyeon, Jangpyeong, Aju, and Okpo. By integrating intelligent transportation systems, he aims to reduce commute times. Expansion of AI-based short-distance school placements and tailored transportation subsidies will also be pursued in parallel.

In the field of childcare, he pledged to establish “Geoje-style 24-hour all-day care centers” in each district and to eliminate service gaps by expanding public childcare, as well as increasing after-school and care teachers.

By starting construction of Gohyeon Elementary School No. 1 earlier, he aims to reduce class overcrowding, and for small schools in Geoje-myeon, Dundeok-myeon, and Sadeung-myeon, he plans to implement a “one school, one specialty” program to foster “small but strong, prestigious schools.”

A smart commute safety network will also be established. For children exposed to steep slopes and busy roads around schools such as Yeonso Elementary, Yongso Elementary, and Geoje Elementary, AI-powered CCTV and smart walkways will be widely installed as part of comprehensive safety measures.

He emphasized the plan to construct pedestrian decks to make Geoje “the safest city for children on their way to school.” He also intends to improve school zone operations with safety as the top priority.

Expanding youth spaces is another key pledge. Kwon promised to renovate or newly build aging public facilities to establish the “Geoje Education, Culture, and Sports Complex Center.”

This center will bring together a Fourth Industrial Revolution experience hall, a media creation studio, a youth cafe, sports facilities, a library, and more, envisioning it as a “cultural landmark” for local youth.

He also plans to foster local talent for the future by developing specialized high schools equivalent to junior colleges. Geoje Technical High School will be converted into an advanced Meister High School specializing in AI, robotics, and smart shipbuilding, while Gyeongnam Industrial High School will be restructured around emerging industries. Strategies include building a recruitment system in partnership with regional companies such as Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries to encourage local talent to remain in the area.

In addition, special education and multicultural education will be strengthened. Plans include relocating and expanding Geoj Ae-gwang School, establishing a customized vocational training center, and introducing school-based health checkups to improve the special education environment.

To support multicultural families, he will establish “Geoje Daon School,” which will offer bilingual education and permanent Korean cultural adaptation programs.

Kwon stated, “With Geoje’s natural maritime resources, I envision making Geoje, together with Tongyeong and Goseong, a mecca for educational tourism where learning and tourism coexist. I am determined to make Geoje a city that is not only good but also easy for raising children.”

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