Bucheon High School to Be Converted to Science High School, Opening in March 2027
Fostering Creative and Convergent Talents Linked to Robotics Industry and Cultural Arts
Mayor Jo Yongik Presents Vision for Advanced Science Education City
Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province has succeeded in attracting a science high school, a key project.
According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on the 28th, all four schools?Bucheon High School, Bundang Joongang High School, the provisional Siheung Science High School, and the provisional Icheon Science High School?received the Minister of Education's consent for the new designation of 'Gyeonggi-type Science High Schools.' Earlier, the Provincial Office of Education had selected and preliminarily designated these four schools out of 12 applicants who applied for science high school establishment in December last year.
Bucheon City has been promoting the establishment of a science high school since 2023 and has borne fruit in just two years. The city believes that its differentiated strategy, which focused on converting Bucheon High School into a science high school rather than obsessing over the time-consuming and costly establishment of a new science high school, was effective.
Bucheon High School has been operating as a science-focused school since 2016, making the transition to a science high school relatively smooth. Additionally, through the Green Smart School Gyeonggi-type space restructuring project competition, it secured 23 billion KRW in facility improvement funds, highlighting the advantage of saving budget and time compared to establishing a new school.
The city also analyzed that its strategy to nurture creative and convergent educational talents by leveraging Bucheon’s strengths in robotics and cultural arts contributed to attracting the science high school. Plans include opening an AI robotics major track linked to the local robotics industry such as the Bucheon Robot Industry Research Complex, and operating creative and convergent educational programs like the Bucheon Arts Science Academy and Animation+Science in cooperation with the Bucheon Cultural Foundation and Gyeonggi Arts High School.
Furthermore, the city evaluated that the strong support from the City Council, the Education Support Office, local semiconductor companies, universities, research and development institutions, and a citizen-centered joint countermeasure committee, which signed successive agreements, became a driving force in attracting the science high school.
Bucheon City also devoted great effort until the final stage of the step-by-step procedure for selecting the Gyeonggi-type science high school. During the first-stage evaluation, to ensure fairness, an in-depth interview was added, in which Mayor Jo Yong-ik of Bucheon personally participated, actively presenting the necessity, justification, and strengths of establishing the science high school, drawing attention.
At the 'Bucheon Science High School Establishment Promotion Citizen Briefing' held last October at the auditorium of Ojeong-gu Office in Bucheon, Mayor Jo Yong-ik of Bucheon and citizens are holding hand placards wishing for the attraction of the science high school. Photo by Bucheon City
Having passed the final hurdle in attracting the science high school, Bucheon City plans to proceed with converting Bucheon High School into a science high school, aiming to open in March 2027. The city especially envisions using the establishment of the science high school as a stepping stone to becoming an 'advanced science education city' linked to future cutting-edge industries, beyond just nurturing scientific talents and improving the educational environment.
The SK Green Techno Campus within the upcoming Bucheon Daejang Urban Advanced Industrial Complex is expected to gather SK Group’s R&D personnel focused on eco-friendly energy. Anchored by this company, state-of-the-art scientific research facilities will also be established. The city plans to provide an environment where science high school students can engage in practical research and education.
Additionally, the city will support students’ research and internship activities in collaboration with five local R&D institutions including the Bucheon Robot Industry Research Institute, four universities, and semiconductor companies such as Onsemi Korea.
Mayor Jo said, "Thanks to a systematic strategy and active citizen support, we were able to fulfill the long-held wish of establishing a science high school. Through Bucheon Science High School, we will nurture creative and convergent talents who will lead the future and make Bucheon City an advanced science education city."
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