Gimpo City Holds Education Advancement Special Zone Performance Report Meeting
From Community Care to AI Education... Taking on the Challenge of Becoming a Premium Education City
Gimpo, a City Attracting People Through Education in Action
Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province has declared a bold leap forward as a "premium education city." On May 7, Gimpo City announced that it held the "2025 Education Advancement Special Zone First Quarter Performance Report Meeting" on April 29.
This report meeting was presided over by the Director of the Education and Culture Bureau, who leads the Gimpo City Education Advancement Special Zone, and was attended by the heads of six departments: Education and Youth, Culture and Arts, Sports, Library, Family and Culture, and Childcare.
Since being designated as an Education Advancement Special Zone by the Ministry of Education last year, Gimpo City has been implementing a variety of policies that position education as a core infrastructure for urban competitiveness, going beyond simple welfare. This year, the city is investing a total budget of 3.7 billion won to carry out 21 key projects in three major areas: community-based care, strengthening global competencies, and nurturing talent for future industries.
In particular, this performance report meeting reviewed the outcomes of Gimpo City's unique education policies that differentiate it from other local governments, and shared future directions focusing on policies that citizens can directly experience.
From Community Care to Global Talent Development... Citizen-Oriented Education Policies Attract Attention
In the "community-based care system" sector, "specialized care centers" have opened and are in operation in Tongjin, Gurae, and Unyang-dong. These centers offer region-specific programs in science, second foreign languages, and sports, and have introduced a "safe accompaniment service" that includes assistance for commuting to and from school and hospital visits, helping to reduce the caregiving burden on citizens. This integrated care service is the first of its kind in the country.
Additionally, to "strengthen global competencies," native speaker foreign language programs will be introduced at 22 care centers starting in May, and English camps and special foreign language lectures will also be offered, creating a system that provides high-quality education without the need for private tutoring. Following the successful special lecture by Tyler Rasch in April, a talk concert featuring global figures is scheduled to be held in the second half of the year.
Educational support for youth from immigrant backgrounds is also being expanded. Since March this year, Korean language classes, subject mentoring, and bilingual classes have been operating, and the use of local learning centers in towns and districts for close-proximity support has received positive feedback for its high satisfaction.
Fostering Future Talent Based on AI and Software... Full-Scale Collaboration with Yonsei University
Gimpo City is also steadily laying the foundation for nurturing talent for future industries. Through AI- and software-focused elective courses, support for autonomous public high schools, and youth career planning projects, the city aims to develop Gimpo into a hub for future education in the mid- to long-term.
In particular, in collaboration with Yonsei University, an educational curriculum idea contest was held in March, and the winning ideas will be incorporated into middle and high school curricula starting in the fall semester. In addition, Yonsei University students will serve as mentors for AI/software clubs at local high schools, and high school students will have the opportunity to visit the university and participate in experiential programs beginning in May.
Furthermore, a research project to establish an education roadmap has begun, and customized career fairs, admissions briefings, and special lectures in arts and physical education are also scheduled to take place over three days.
"Gimpo, a City Attracting People Through Education"
At each library, literacy, foreign language, and music education programs are underway, and the Media Art Center has been offering hands-on media education since March. Ice skating and sports special lectures are also planned for the fall semester.
A Gimpo City official stated, "Education is the future of the city and a key element of competitiveness," and added, "Through Gimpo's differentiated education policies, we will create a city where education is synonymous with settlement and becomes the central axis of urban growth."
Gimpo City plans to hold a mid-term performance report meeting and a year-end performance presentation in the future, and between May and June, will conduct on-site inspections and promote outstanding cases by visiting Education Advancement Special Zone project sites in person.
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