[Feature] Pocheon, Soaring as a City People Come to for Education
Focused Investment in Education and Selection as a Pilot Education Advancement Special Zone
Bold Investments under the 8th Administration Turn the Crisis of Regional Decline into an Opportunity for Growth
Four-Year University Entrance Rate Jumps by 9 Percentage Points, Proving Competitiveness of Public Education
“Education Advancement Special Zone The+Learning Achievement Sharing Event” to Be Held on the 25th
At one time, “education” was cited as one of the main reasons why Pocheon residents left the region. However, since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, the city’s governing philosophy and bold investments in education have combined to transform this longstanding issue into a dynamic wave of change, making Pocheon a “city people come to for education.” In particular, the designation of Pocheon as a “Pilot (Leading) Education Advancement Special Zone” in July 2024 has provided powerful momentum for the local education sector, serving as a decisive force in turning the crisis of regional decline into an opportunity for growth.
This transformation is not just a slogan, but is substantiated by concrete data. The city’s focus and investment in education are finally creating a new reality as a “city people come to for education,” and four key indicators clearly demonstrate this change.
The Driving Force of Change: Bold Expansion of the Education Budget
The starting point for this transformation is the securing of stable financial resources. Pocheon City has made education its top policy priority and has continuously expanded its education budget to support schools. The increase in recent years has been particularly noteworthy. Based on the main budget, the city allocated 9.7 billion won in 2023, 11.4 billion won in 2024, and a record-high 12.1 billion won in 2025.
Since the launch of the 8th administration, the city’s average annual education budget has reached 10.6 billion won, a significant increase compared to the average of 7.9 billion won during the previous four years (2018-2021). This demonstrates the city’s firm determination to make education a core priority of municipal governance.
The secured budget has led to tangible improvements in the quality of education experienced by individual students. The amount of educational support per student is a key indicator of educational quality. During the 8th administration, the average educational support per student in Pocheon City was 1.17 million won. Notably, despite limited financial resources, the city provided 1.36 million won per student in 2023 and 1.31 million won in 2024-double the Gyeonggi Province average.
This has provided a solid foundation for the implementation of diverse educational programs and tailored support at schools, resulting in a significant improvement in educational satisfaction among students and parents.
“No Longer Leaving Because of Education” - Marked Decline in Student Outflow
The most distinct result of expanded investment in education is seen in the reduction of student outflow. The chronic issue of population loss due to education has been reversed.
Until 2023, more than 600 students transferred to other regions each year. However, this number dropped to 578 in 2024, and especially this year, as of September, it has sharply decreased to 339-a very positive sign. This demonstrates that, following the designation as a pilot Education Advancement Special Zone in July 2024, various education policies have been implemented in earnest, leading parents and students to develop expectations and satisfaction with the Pocheon-style education system.
Meaningful changes are also emerging in students’ advancement and academic achievement. During the 8th administration, the average rate of Pocheon middle school students advancing to local high schools reached 89%. This is a 3 percentage point increase from the previous four years (2018-2021), which stood at 86%, indicating that more students are choosing to attend local high schools for quality education rather than leaving the area.
The college entrance rate is also remarkable. The rate of students entering four-year universities surged from 43% previously to 52% during the 8th administration. Additionally, 34 students were admitted to top-tier universities such as medical schools, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, and KAIST, demonstrating a substantial enhancement in the competitiveness of Pocheon’s education.
Sharing Achievements and Drawing a Blueprint for “Future Education”
Based on these tangible results, Pocheon City has created an opportunity to share these achievements with citizens and to envision an even greater future for education.
On the 25th, the “Education Advancement Special Zone The+Learning Achievement Sharing Event: Changing Pocheon Education” will be held at the Grand Theater of Pocheon Banwol Art Hall. The event is designed to share the outcomes of major projects implemented since the city was designated as a pilot Education Advancement Special Zone, and to explore the next steps for the advancement of education in Pocheon together with its citizens.
The event will feature presentations on major projects of the Education Advancement Special Zone, as well as special lectures by experts in digital, artificial intelligence (AI), and self-directed learning, along with invited performances and a variety of other programs.
The four key indicators discussed above show that expanded investment in education has led to improvements in educational quality, prevented student outflow, resulted in outstanding advancement outcomes, and strengthened the competitiveness of public education and the quality of life in the region, creating a virtuous cycle that is operating successfully.
As Pocheon City’s education policy projects and the Education Advancement Special Zone initiative gain full momentum, the pace of this transformation is expected to accelerate even further.
Baek Younghyun, Mayor of Pocheon, stated, “Pocheon is no longer a city people leave because of education, but is transforming into a ‘city people come to for education.’ We will work with citizens to shape the future of education in Pocheon and leap forward as a premier educational city in northern Gyeonggi Province.”
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