Mokpo Mayor Candidate Kim Jongsik Proposes Education Policy to Address Declining School-Age Population

Strengthening Competitiveness of General High Schools, Key Pledges Including 100-Won Bus Fare

Candidate Kim Jong-sik, mayoral candidate of Mokpo, announcing education policy pledges through a press conference. Photo by Kim Jong-sik Campaign Office.

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] Kim Jongsik, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Mokpo, Jeonnam, announced education policies and pledges on the 20th, including “measures to strengthen the competitiveness of general high schools due to the decline in school-age population and responses to the introduction of the high school credit system.”

At a press conference on the day, Candidate Kim said, “We have prepared this occasion to announce education policies in response to the high interest of Mokpo citizens and parents in education,” and added, “Strengthening the competitiveness of general high schools will be the top priority in the education sector of city administration.”

He predicted, “Currently, the elementary school enrollment quota is about 2,500 students, but in four years, it will sharply drop to around 1,500, causing a shortage of 800 students, which will lead to imbalance between the old downtown and new town areas as well as the emergence of mini-schools.”

Accordingly, Candidate Kim emphasized, “When these children grow up and enter high school, Mokpo high schools will face a serious shortage of students, so we must prepare a roadmap now to enhance competitiveness in advance.”

As the reason, Candidate Kim pointed out that if the competitiveness of general high schools is strengthened, it will prevent the outflow of Mokpo students to other regions and, conversely, attract students from other areas to study in Mokpo, achieving a win-win effect with significant educational meaning.

He expressed a strong will, saying, “My philosophy is not to leave it only to the education authorities but for Mokpo City to actively take part,” indicating that Mokpo City will also actively engage.

Additionally, Candidate Kim hinted, “From 2025, when the high school credit system is implemented, broad education will be difficult to achieve, so we plan to promote a high school credit system joint campus equipped with a system where general high school students can complete credits through advanced learning, in cooperation with the Jeonnam Office of Education, on the site of the former Cheongho Middle School.”

He added, “Once the high school credit system campus is on a normal track, it will become a nationwide model, increasing the number of students studying in Mokpo and enhancing high school competitiveness.”

In particular, Candidate Kim emphasized regarding academic disparity, “The gap cannot be resolved by simply reinforcing academic skills. Continuous support is needed to sustain it.”

He continued, “We will focus on the most effective early elementary grades by reducing the number of students per class and increasing support to systematically provide basic education suitable for each developmental stage.”

Candidate Kim also promised, “To reduce the transportation burden on parents, we will introduce a 100-won city bus for elementary, middle, and high school students, provide entrance congratulatory money to newly enrolled elementary students, and increase support for eco-friendly meal costs in kindergartens and daycare centers.”

He further stated, “To facilitate commuting for students in Okam and Bujudong in the old downtown area, we will negotiate with bus companies to operate student-only shuttle buses between the Okam district and old downtown schools, and actively consider establishing or relocating an elementary school in the Seokhyeon district due to the influx of residents in large apartment complexes in Seokhyeon-dong.”

Along with this, he pledged infrastructure expansion such as early completion of the Jeonnam Early Childhood Forest Experience Center to create the nation’s best family-oriented experience space, as well as the construction of the Yonghae-dong Complex Cultural Center and multipurpose education and cultural centers in the Okam and Seokhyeon districts.

Finally, Candidate Kim Jongsik expressed a strong determination, saying, “For the development of Mokpo education, I will carry out and realize it with sincere and strong drive without hesitation.”

He added, “I will devote all my remaining passion to take responsibility for our children’s future and to continuously innovate, change, and develop Mokpo education,” asking parents for their support and interest.