Hanam City Achieves Record-High University Admission Rates in Seoul
Educational Innovation Bears Fruit: 286 Students Enter Prestigious Universities
Leading the Way in Nurturing Future Talent Through Customized Educational Support
Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyun-jae) has steadily increased the admission rates to major universities in Seoul and medical and pharmaceutical fields through customized educational support, achieving the best results in history this year.
Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam (center), is taking a commemorative photo with Lim Tae-hee, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, and others after receiving an award in the Education Cooperation category at the '40th Gyeonggi Education Awards Ceremony' held at the Southern Office of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on December 23 last year. Provided by Hanam City
According to Hanam City on the 25th, this year, high schools in the region saw 245 students admitted to the top 10 major universities in Seoul, including 15 to Seoul National University, 28 to Yonsei University, and 26 to Korea University, and 41 students admitted to medical and pharmaceutical fields, totaling 286 students entering prestigious universities and departments nationwide.
Compared to the previous year, the number of admissions to the top 10 major universities in Seoul increased by 35, from 210 to 245, and an additional 41 students were admitted to medical and pharmaceutical fields, resulting in excellent outcomes, Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae stated.
This achievement is the result of organic cooperation among various institutions, including Hanam City's own projects launched since 2023 such as the High School Academic Improvement Project and High School Specialization Project, the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education (Superintendent Oh Seong-ae)'s support for the high school credit system operation project, and the active budget reflection by the Hanam City Council (Chairman Geum Gwang-yeon). It is analyzed that continuous support and investment for nurturing future talents have borne fruit.
The main projects promoted by Hanam City include, first, university campus tours and corporate experience programs that stimulate interest in career paths and college admissions and increase learning motivation. The university campus tours motivated 2,785 middle and high school students through tours including on-campus dining experiences at 11 universities such as Seoul National University.
The corporate experience program provided 597 students from 19 elementary, middle, and high schools with opportunities to understand actual work environments through tours of five companies, including the Samsung Electronics Museum Center. These two programs are conducted by the Hanam Education Foundation and have received high praise from students, parents, and teachers.
Second, the High School Specialization Project provides equal support of 80 million KRW per school, totaling 800 million KRW, to 10 high schools in the district to help operate customized programs for each school. Various programs such as club activities, academic supplementation, career and college admissions guidance, and creative convergence activities maximize students' capabilities and have led to high satisfaction.
Third, the High School Academic Improvement Project supports five high schools in the district with a total of 600 million KRW (differential support ranging from 130 million KRW to 110 million KRW). Through school-specific learning improvement programs such as self-directed learning, after-school learning, and career education, it contributes to enhancing students' academic abilities. This project has achieved results by improving individual academic records reflected in school life records through specialized learning programs (such as medical and life sciences).
In addition, Hanam City is expanding various educational supports not only for high schools but also for all schools including elementary and middle schools to nurture future global talents, providing high-quality learning opportunities for students of all ages.
Through school characteristic projects, programs autonomously operated by reflecting the opinions of students and parents are supported, offering opportunities such as one instrument per student, physical activities, cultural activity experiences, and career exploration.
Furthermore, by operating village experience schools utilizing local educational resources, students directly experience the local community, and through experience buses, they broaden their career exploration opportunities by encountering various occupational groups and industries.
Moreover, to foster global talents, the city operates native English-speaking assistant teacher support projects and English reading program support projects, enhancing students' English proficiency and reducing parents' private education expenses.
Additionally, career and college admission-related education is conducted regionally for not only students but also parents. Starting from March 2025, an online integrated education platform providing one-stop career and college admission information, expert counseling, and personalized career design will be fully operated, and mentoring by university students both online and offline will be conducted to offer practical advice from seniors.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education are also promoting various programs such as the Gyeonggi Shared School and high school credit system support to ensure that Hanam students can study in the best learning environment in line with the changing educational environment.
Hanam City and the local education community are facing an important turning point in strengthening regional educational capabilities. This is because the separation and establishment of the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education, a key educational issue for Hanam City, is imminent. Along with the efforts of Hanam City and the local education community, who have actively promoted the establishment of the Hanam Office of Education through signature campaigns and delivering the signature list to Superintendent Lim Tae-hee, the Hanam Office of Education is expected to be newly established once the ongoing legislative amendments in the National Assembly and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education ordinance revisions are completed. Through this, it is expected that the quality of education in Hanam City will improve, and education administrative services tailored to local characteristics will be provided, realizing true educational autonomy.
Mayor Lee Hyun-jae said, “The increase in Hanam City's admission rates is a result achieved by the united efforts of students, parents, the Office of Education, schools, and Hanam City,” adding, “We will continue to cooperate closely and communicate continuously with the Gwangju-Hanam Office of Education and the Hanam City Council for educational development, doing our best so that students can grow in a better educational environment.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
