Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Realizing a City Where Learning Leads to Work... A National Model for Public Education Innovation"

Goyang Selected as "Education Development Special Zone" for Second Year
Investing Approximately 16.6 Billion Won Over Three Years Until 2026
Establishing Goyang Digital Video Campus and Specialized Entrepreneurship Education System
Operating Local Industry Talent Development Programs with Four Universities in the City

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) has entered its second year after being selected as a pilot area for the Ministry of Education's "Education Development Special Zone" public project, establishing itself as a leading model that simultaneously achieves innovation in public education and linkage with local industries.

The opening ceremony of Goyang Special City Education Development Special Zone Pilot Project GY STUDIO X held on March 10. Provided by Goyang Special City

The core of the "Education Development Special Zone" project is to nurture talent that will drive the local economy by connecting with Goyang's key industrial belts, including Ilsan Technovalley, Goyang Broadcasting and Video Valley, and Goyang Video Culture Complex. Through this initiative, the city is working to prevent the outflow of young talent to the Seoul metropolitan area and to create an ecosystem where education and employment form a virtuous cycle.

From 2024 to 2026, Goyang Special City will invest a total of 16.6 billion won (50% national funding, 50% city funding) over three years to pursue a multifaceted education policy. The goals include creating an educational environment conducive to raising children, innovating public education, linking school-age students, universities, and industries, and fostering local talent tailored to field needs.

In particular, the "Goyang Digital Video Campus," jointly developed by Goyang City and the Goyang Office of Education, is gaining attention as a model for nurturing digital video and cultural content talent based on entrepreneurship education. This campus was selected as an outstanding case among 56 pilot areas nationwide and received the Minister of Education Award in March.

Currently, a total of six entrepreneurship campuses are being operated, based on five specialized high schools in the area and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Media Education Center. Through various hands-on, practice-oriented curricula such as media content production, smart farming, and AI-powered K-culture content development, these campuses are producing tangible results in entrepreneurship.

December 2024 Goyang City Education Development Special Zone Project Promotion Report Meeting. Provided by Goyang Special City

By collaborating with local educational institutions and companies such as Goyang Industry Promotion Agency, EBS, Joongbu University, Dongguk University, Nonghyup University, and Korea Aerospace University, the city has enhanced both professionalism and effectiveness. As a result, it has proven its competitiveness by winning top prizes at various competitions, including the Grand Prize and Excellence Award at the Gyeonggi Content Competition and the Excellence Award at the CJ Donors Camp Youth Film Festival.

Goyang Special City is also working to reduce dependence on private education by building the "Autonomous Public High School 2.0" model, enabling career planning and competency development within public education. This year, Jeohyeon High School and Baekseok High School are applying for the Ministry of Education's public project.

Jeohyeon High School operates a bio-life science specialized education program in cooperation with the city, the Office of Education, and Dongguk University, while Baekseok High School runs an AI-centered integrated education program in partnership with Korea Aerospace University and the AI Campus. If selected, these schools will receive financial support of 200 million won per year for five years, along with various special privileges such as increased curriculum autonomy, open recruitment for principals, teacher invitations, and the allowance for a separate admissions quota.

Applications for the public project will be completed by the end of June, and the Ministry of Education is scheduled to announce the final selection results in July.

Goyang Special City is emerging as a hub city for nurturing future industry talent in connection with the Broadcasting and Video Industry Innovation Belt (Janghang-dong area - Goyang Video Culture Complex).

Operation process of GY VC Preschool newsroom at Joongbu University. Provided by Goyang Special City

Starting this year, the city is also operating specialized education programs in collaboration with four local universities, leveraging each university's area of expertise.

Nonghyup University is nurturing advanced agricultural talent based on digital technologies such as smart farming, while Dongguk University is fostering AI robotics talent through a robot coding curriculum. Joongbu University is cultivating creative talent in the media, broadcasting, and content sectors by utilizing GY STUDIO X, and Korea Aerospace University is producing skilled personnel to lead the aerospace and unmanned mobility industries through a specialized drone education program.

In addition, starting in the second half of this year, the "AI-Driven Media Content Creation Academy" will be launched in earnest. Organized by the Goyang Industry Promotion Agency, the program will offer 20 sessions of practical training in scenario writing, music, and video creation to 400 participants, nurturing practical talent needed by local companies.

Field experience programs linked to the Goyang Aqua Special Filming Studio are also underway. Participants tour key facilities such as the studio's exhibition hall, small and large water tanks, and indoor studios, and are provided with opportunities for practical experience in media content and career planning through job understanding.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, holding the Goyang Education Branding Declaration Ceremony for the Education Development Special Zone. Provided by Goyang Special City

Mayor Lee Donghwan of Goyang Special City stated, "The Goyang-style Education Development Special Zone is more than just an education policy; it is a representative growth model that directly connects Goyang's future industries and talent strategies," adding, "We will further solidify Goyang's status as a city where people learn, work, and live."