Announcement of 'Busan-style Educational Welfare'
for the Normalization of Education
Kim Seok-jun, a preliminary candidate running for re-election as Busan Superintendent of Education, unveiled his first policy package containing the ‘Busan-style Educational Welfare’ pledge.
He decided to avoid involvement in the political logic competition currently divided by the presidential impeachment and instead focus on policies to secure victory in this election. Since it concerns education, he chose to compete through policy rather than politics.
On the 26th at 11 a.m., Kim held a press conference at the Busan City Council briefing room and announced the ‘Busan-style Educational Welfare’ policy aimed at making Busan a better place to raise children and provide education, marking the start of his first policy promotion activities.
He stated, “As a proven re-elected superintendent of education, based on my experience and capabilities in achieving free meals for kindergarten through high school, completing free education for elementary through high school, supporting middle school uniform costs, and subsidizing school trip expenses for elementary through high school, I will normalize the crisis-ridden Busan education and realize ‘Busan-style educational welfare that supports like family.’”
To this end, first, aiming for ‘thorough educational welfare that cares like family,’ he promised to implement policies such as △supporting meal costs for infants aged 0-2 in daycare centers △full support for private kindergarten tuition △providing 300,000 KRW for elementary school entrance preparation △supporting commuting transportation costs for middle and high school students △expanding treatment cost support for students with incurable diseases △supporting lunch costs for foreign schools located in Busan, ensuring that all students living in Busan can enjoy educational welfare benefits without discrimination.
Second, under the direction that ‘the best welfare is safety and happiness,’ he pledged to devote efforts to improving educational environments that threaten student safety.
Kim said, “First, tragic incidents like the sacrifice of Kim Ha-neul should never happen again,” and promised, “In line with the government and National Assembly’s proposed ‘Ha-neul Act,’ we will expand the participation of doctors and other experts in the Teacher Illness Review Committee and enhance objectivity, fairness, and accountability in the review of teacher reinstatement and handling of teacher-related complaints.”
He plans to alleviate parents’ concerns about school safety through measures such as △expanding language refinement campaigns that promote mutual respect in schools △strengthening education on prevention of drug, substance, and gambling addiction △expanding support for prevention of school violence and sexual violence and relationship restoration △enhancing the expertise of dedicated school violence investigators △improving school commute routes to make going to and from school safer.
Third, for the ‘Neulbom Classroom customized personalized service,’ he plans to implement △sensory and creative Neulbom classrooms for special education students △expand smarter, AI-based customized Neulbom education △expand 16 local community growth centers (Uri Dongnae Jarumteo) across districts and counties.
Additionally, he intends to utilize idle community spaces near the homes of special education students to provide Neulbom programs that satisfy their educational needs, including cultural and artistic education. Plans also include developing AI-based programs for lower-grade elementary students.
Fourth, to realize the value of a ‘happy community living together’ where all members of the educational community are happy, he will promote policies such as △expanding operation of Dahangbok Schools and innovative graduate education programs △strengthening the educational support capacity of village education communities △improving treatment of non-working laborers during school vacations.
Kim Seok-jun expressed, “I cannot help but feel regret upon seeing reports that the superintendent election has lost its policy focus,” and added, “I will continue my policy efforts focusing solely on the children to ensure that extreme political logic does not interfere in the education field.”
Kim Seok-jun plans to announce policy packages by sector once a week through press conferences or press releases going forward.
Kim Seok-jun, a preliminary candidate for Busan Superintendent of Education, is announcing the first pledge of Busan-style educational welfare.
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