Bucheon City Applies for 'Gyeonggi Future-Oriented Science High School' Contest... "Differentiation in Creative Convergence Education"

Bucheon High School to Convert into Science High School to Save Time and Budget
First Preliminary Designation Results to Be Announced at the End of This Month

Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it submitted an application on the 8th for the 'Gyeonggi Future-Oriented Science High School New Designation Phase 1 Preliminary Designation' contest hosted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. Bucheon plans to establish the science high school by converting the current Bucheon High School into a science high school.

In the application, the city highlighted creative convergence education utilizing regional specialized resources and an AI Robotics track as strategies that differentiate it from other local governments. It also emphasized the strong local community will for the establishment of the science high school, excellent transportation networks, and advanced industrial infrastructure.

Through fusion programs of science and cultural arts such as the Bucheon Arts and Science Academy and Aniscience (Animation+Science), the city plans to support students to grow into creative talents who transcend the boundaries between science and art.

To establish the science high school, the city also proposed active cooperation with major semiconductor companies and five major research and development (R&D) institutions within the region. The ongoing support and participation activities from citizens and the city council since last year were also mentioned as key factors.

In particular, since December last year, the city signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bucheon City Council, Bucheon Office of Education, and Bucheon High School, and in March, the Bucheon City Council unanimously adopted a 'Resolution Supporting the Establishment of Bucheon Science High School.' Additionally, citizen briefing sessions were held in the three districts, and more than 70,000 residents participated in a citizen signature campaign for the establishment of the science high school, reflecting the strong local desire for the school’s establishment.

At the 'Bucheon Science High School Establishment Promotion Citizen Briefing' held last October at the auditorium of Ojeong-gu Office in Bucheon, citizens are holding hand placards wishing for the establishment of the science high school. Provided by Bucheon City

The city expects that the excellent transportation infrastructure, including Subway Lines 1, 7, and Seohae Line, as well as future connections such as the Metropolitan Railroad Daejang-Hongdae Line and the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX) Lines B, D, E, and F, will enhance educational accessibility and play a significant role in improving the urban educational environment in the southwestern Gyeonggi region.

Furthermore, the advanced industrial base of the Bucheon Daejang Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex is expected to provide practical science education opportunities with global competitiveness to science talents.

Bucheon High School, which is considering conversion to a science high school, has been operating as a science-focused school since 2016 and secured 23 billion KRW through the Green Smart School Gyeonggi-type space restructuring contest, offering the advantage of budget savings.

Jo Yong-ik, mayor of Bucheon, stated, "The justification that Bucheon is the optimal location for establishing a science high school has been sufficiently verified," adding, "We will enhance the status of Bucheon as a city of advanced science education through attracting the science high school."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Future-Oriented Science High School will announce the results of the first phase preliminary designation by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education at the end of this month, followed by the second phase Special Purpose High School Designation Operation Committee and the third phase request for consent from the Minister of Education, with the final selection results announced in February next year.