Gyeongju and Mungyeong Designated as 'Pilot Regions for Educational Development Special Zone'... Gyeongbuk Office of Education Plans 'Cluster-Type Model'

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education (Superintendent Lim Jong-sik) announced that Gyeongju and Mungyeong, which had previously been designated as preliminary regions for the Educational Development Special Zone, were officially designated as 'pilot regions for the Educational Development Special Zone' through a re-evaluation by the Ministry of Education on August 6.

With this, a total of 15 cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province have now been designated as pilot regions for the Educational Development Special Zone, establishing the province as the largest local government operator of such zones nationwide.

Gyeongbuk Office of Education

The 'Educational Development Special Zone Pilot Project' is a core national balanced development policy of the Ministry of Education, providing comprehensive support for educational innovation, fostering local talent, and creating a sustainable living ecosystem through cooperation among local governments, offices of education, universities, businesses, and public institutions.

The pilot operation period runs for three years, from 2024 to 2026, and the newly selected Gyeongju and Mungyeong will also operate within this same timeframe.

Gyeongju received high marks for its residential-type future education model, which integrates historical and cultural assets with advanced industries such as future mobility and nuclear power. Mungyeong attracted attention by presenting a regionally integrated educational ecosystem model that includes a care system based on the village education community, experience-based education centered on local identity, and a plan to nurture talent in connection with new industries.

Both regions were designated as preliminary regions during the second round of applications last year. However, through systematic consulting and support for re-evaluation preparation from the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, they supplemented their operation plans and were ultimately selected. As a result of this re-evaluation, Gyeongju was designated as a leading region, while Mungyeong was designated as a managed region.

With this designation, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education will establish a more systematic and differentiated strategy for operating the special zones, with 11 leading regions?now including Gyeongju, in addition to the existing Pohang, Gimcheon, Andong, Gumi, Yeongju, Yeongcheon, Sangju, Yecheon, Uljin, and Ulleung?and four managed regions, now including Mungyeong along with the existing Chilgok, Bonghwa, and Gyeongsan.

To date, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education has continued field-oriented support by cooperating with local governments and education support offices, as well as holding consultative meetings and training sessions to strengthen stakeholders' capabilities, and providing customized on-site inspections and consulting. As a result of these efforts, in February, the pilot operation cases of Pohang and Bonghwa were selected as exemplary cases nationwide.

Taking the additional designation of pilot regions and the selection of exemplary cases as an opportunity, the Gyeongbuk Office of Education is now envisioning a 'cluster-type educational development special zone' model that combines inter-regional collaboration with specialized industries to differentiate its operation from other regions.

In particular, the office is considering the possibility of cooperative measures that leverage the characteristics of coastal regions such as Uljin, Pohang, and Ulleung, and plans to continue concrete discussions on this in the future.

Superintendent Lim Jong-sik stated, "With the additional designation of Gyeongju and Mungyeong, the Gyeongbuk-style educational development special zone model has become even more robust," and added, "We will continue to promote regional revitalization and improved living conditions through education, based on close cooperation with local governments."

Superintendent Lim further emphasized, "For regions that have not been designated, we will spare no effort in providing balanced educational environments and tailored support through projects such as the Gyeongbuk Future Education District."