[Interview] Another Ulsan Education 'Neulbom'... "Dedicated Staff Must Excel"

A Day in the Life of Han Chae-eun,
Neulbom and Academic Administration Coordinator at Okseong Elementary School

A student who used to only say "Hello" has recently been roaming around the Neulbom classroom. Han Chae-eun, Neulbom coordinator at Ulsan Okseong Elementary School, clearly explained the additional education program called 'Neulbom.'

Last year, Ulsan Jung-gu Okseong Elementary School (Principal Lee Myung-seon), which operated a pilot Neulbom School, received over 93% satisfaction in a second-semester survey of parents and students, along with evaluations that it fostered the holistic growth of students.

Okseong Elementary’s Neulbom School designed and provided distinctive, demand-tailored programs such as ‘Good Morning Okseong Morning Neulbom’ for dual-income families and ‘Good Afternoon Okseong Gap Time Neulbom,’ which supports students’ learning management and homework guidance during spare times.

School administrators including the principal and vice principal, along with Neulbom School support staff, collaborated with a broad perspective to help students discover their talents and aptitudes beyond simple care.

Han Chae-eun, Neulbom · Educational Administration Officer.

Han Chae-eun, Neulbom and academic administration coordinator, plays a key role in planning, operating, and supporting programs that match the interests and needs of the children.

Upon arriving at work at 8 a.m., Han heads to the morning Neulbom classroom to welcome students alongside instructors. She carefully inspects the day’s snacks, manages preserved meals, and supports students’ safe activities until the morning Neulbom program ends at 9 a.m. Afterwards, she handles administrative tasks such as organizing operation logs, processing instructor payments, and sorting photos of children’s activities.

In the afternoon, she visits after-school classrooms to check on students’ class progress and participation. Before after-school programs begin, she uses gap times to assist with homework guidance and various learning activities. Her Neulbom and academic administration duties conclude only after supporting students’ dismissal at 5 p.m.

"I focus on carefully observing each student’s individual growth and providing support tailored to them."

She said, "Students who couldn’t even button their coats properly when they first arrived have grown so much that they performed a perfect harmony in a choir concert at the second-semester education achievement presentation."

She introduced a migrant-background student who only knew the Korean phrase ‘Hello’ at enrollment and was shy but became actively involved in all Neulbom School programs within a few months.

Han Chae-eun’s dedicated example not only demonstrates the successful establishment of Okseong Elementary’s Neulbom School but also highlights the positive impact of coordinators’ roles on improving students’ educational environments through the Neulbom School program operations.

Han said, "I felt proud as a coordinator when a parent from a dual-income family expressed gratitude, saying that thanks to the morning Neulbom program, they no longer worried about their child being home alone and could focus more on work."

She added, "I believe the positive evaluation came from the collaboration and sharing of concerns with care specialists, school teachers, the administrative director, and instructors to satisfy the diverse needs of students and parents in operating the Neulbom School program."

Han worked as a temporary contract worker handling Neulbom duties last year but will become a full-time employee starting this March. She recently passed the final stage of the ‘2025 Education Public Service Open Competitive Examination’ for the Neulbom and academic administration coordinator position.

Han said, “I hope every student grows happily within the school’s protective environment. I want to be a Neulbom academic administration coordinator who creates a trustworthy environment for parents and works actively to help students grow healthily together.”

The Ulsan Office of Education will expand Neulbom School operations from first to second grade in elementary schools this year. Starting the new semester, a dedicated Neulbom Support Office will be established, and one Neulbom Support Office manager will be assigned for every three to four elementary schools operating Neulbom Schools.

Han said, "Neulbom School is a comprehensive education program that integrates existing after-school programs and elementary care classrooms, helping students’ holistic growth based on abundant educational resources from schools and local communities."

She explained that at school sites, Neulbom Support Office managers, Neulbom and academic administration coordinators, care specialists, and program instructors join forces to provide various after-school classes and care services to elementary students in the mornings and evenings.

The Ulsan Office of Education plans to create a care environment where students and parents can participate with peace of mind and support students’ harmonious growth by offering high-quality programs through school-community cooperation.