Ulsan Office of Education to Pilot Restorative Schools in 20 Institutions

Moving Beyond Disciplinary Responses to Conflict Resolution Focused on Restoring Relationships
School Community Anticipates Creating a Peaceful School Culture Together

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education will pilot the operation of 20 "Restorative Schools" over three years starting this year to create a peaceful school culture together with the school community.

The restorative schools will be operated in 7 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 special-purpose school.

This project was established to prevent minor conflicts between students from escalating into school violence or worsening relationships after reports, and to foster a culture where the school community can cooperate to resolve conflicts.

"Restorative Life Education" is an educational approach that helps students, teachers, and parents resolve conflicts together, going beyond just preventing school violence.

It aims to provide solutions focused on restoring relationships rather than traditional disciplinary responses, thereby creating a peaceful and warm school culture.

The pilot schools will operate according to the "Making Restorative Schools" plan: the first year focuses on "Understanding and Training," the second year on "Practice and Application," and the third year on "Structure and Operation."

Initiatives include intensive training for faculty, restorative life education at the class level, restorative life education for parents, training of school coordinators and community conflict mediators, and support for operating school community restorative committees.

By March 28, the participating schools will conduct intensive training for restorative school teachers for the new academic year in consultation with specialized organizations, following each school's operational plan.

The Ulsan Office of Education plans to create a sustainable peaceful school by fostering a culture where members of the school community autonomously transform conflicts through this project.

Superintendent Cheon Chang-su stated, "It is important not only to prevent school violence but also to establish a culture where students, staff, and parents resolve conflicts through dialogue meetings together," adding, "We will lay the foundation for the school community to solve problems independently through restorative life education."