Shin Jeong-hoon's 7th Pledge: 'Creating a Premium Education City, Naju'

Establishment of School Corporations and Installation of Education Freedom Zones in Innovation Cities

"Will Improve to Meet Diverse Educational Demands and Foster Talent"

Shin Jeong-hoon, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for the Naju·Hwasun electoral district, announced the "Creating a Premium Education City Naju" as his 7th livelihood pledge.

This pledge includes establishing a school corporation within Bitgaram Innovation City, setting up an education free zone in Naju, and fostering prestigious high schools.

As of the end of January this year, Candidate Shin diagnosed that the average age in Bitgaram Innovation City is 34.3 years, which is much younger compared to the national average of 44.8 years. The population under 9 years old accounts for 14.4%, nearly twice the national average of 6.5%.

Candidate Shin explained that due to the continuous increase in population and student numbers, it is necessary to resolve issues of school overcrowding and overcapacity and to prepare an educational environment that guarantees safe learning rights.

Despite active population inflow due to the opening of Korea Energy University, relocation of 16 public institutions including KEPCO, attraction of large research facilities, and the creation of an energy cluster, Bitgaram Innovation City has a lower rate of family relocation compared to other innovation cities.

Accordingly, Candidate Shin Jeong-hoon announced that he will create a "customized education system linked to local resources" to respond to diverse educational demands and establish residential conditions befitting a premium education city.

Specifically, he plans to promote the construction of new schools (kindergarten, elementary, middle) to alleviate student overcrowding and ensure students' safe learning rights.

He will also promote the fostering of prestigious schools and the establishment of a school corporation through converting to autonomous public high schools, establishing autonomous private and international high schools, and utilizing Jeonnam Science High School and Foreign Language High School. Additionally, he will set up the Naju Education Development Special Zone linking global education with industry-academia-research clusters.

There is also a plan to implement "customized education programs linked to local resources" involving high schools in the old downtown and innovation city, local universities, companies, and public institutions. Joint educational programs and career-linked curricula will be operated among the six high schools in Naju old downtown, two in the innovation city, Jeonnam Science High School, Jeonnam Foreign Language High School, and between these high schools and universities, companies, and public institutions.

Candidate Shin Jeong-hoon said, "Bitgaram-dong is expected to see continuous population inflow due to the additional attraction of national large-scale research facilities and public institutions, as well as the construction of the Naju~Gwangju metropolitan railway," adding, "I will continuously strive to prepare for the increase in student numbers and establish high-quality educational conditions."