Secured 38.8 Billion KRW in National Funding Over 5 Years
Addressing Local Extinction and Fostering Regional Talent
Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it has been selected as the second pilot area for the Education Development Special Zone promoted by the Ministry of Education and the Presidential Commission on Local Era, and will receive 38.8 billion KRW in national funding out of a total project budget of 46.6 billion KRW over the next five years.
The Education Development Special Zone is a core policy of the "Bold Educational Reform to Nurture Talent," one of the five major strategies to realize the local era.
It aims to establish a comprehensive system supporting the cultivation of outstanding talent and regional settlement through innovation in local public education.
To achieve this selection, the county signed business agreements with Jeollanam-do, the Provincial Office of Education, Gokseong Office of Education, Gokseong County Council, Jeonnam Science University, local schools, and the Gokseong Future Education Foundation, and has been operating a working-level consultative body to fully focus on preparing the planning proposal.
The Gokseong-type Education Development Special Zone model, called "K-food Specialized," consists of four promotion strategies and eleven detailed implementation plans for balanced development of public education.
Key plans include ▲ operation of hub-type childcare centers ▲ activation of community-linked childcare and Neulbom School ▲ ecological and AI joint linked education ▲ strengthening the functions of public-private-academic education platforms ▲ Young Chef specialized education ▲ establishment of autonomous public high schools ▲ K-food & smart farm workforce development.
In particular, along with specialized education programs centered on the Future Education Foundation, efforts will focus on nurturing K-food experts based on the Culinary Science High School, Jeonnam Science University, and the Nutrition Education Experience Center under the Jeollanam-do Office of Education (scheduled to be established). Additionally, the county plans to simultaneously cultivate professional talent in the smart farm sector, a core project of the county.
Furthermore, by linking the Local Extinction Response Fund and the Regional Vitality Town project, the county plans to develop a regional model where education, jobs, and settlement create a virtuous cycle, maximizing the synergy effect of the special zone operation.
Lee Gwi-dong, Acting Governor of Gokseong-gun, said, "Through this special zone designation, we aim to prepare practical measures for regional educational development and response to population extinction," adding, "We will actively support raising Gokseong-gun’s educational competitiveness from early childhood care to elementary, middle, and university levels, and establishing a solid educational ecosystem linked to the region’s integrated development strategy."
Following this, No Myung-sook, Superintendent of Gokseong Office of Education, stated, "The selection as an Education Development Special Zone is an important opportunity to present the future direction of Gokseong education through cooperation with local governments," and added, "We will continue to build a win-win model of local autonomy and educational autonomy."
Meanwhile, Gokseong-gun, selected as a pilot area for the Education Development Special Zone, is expected to be officially designated as a special zone after evaluation by the Education Development Special Zone Committee following three years of operation.
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