Students Ask, Superintendent Answers... Busan Student Council Opens a Lesson in Democracy

Busan Student Council Takes Direct Role in Shaping Education Policy

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Kim Seokjun) is institutionally ensuring student participation in educational policy and strengthening democratic citizenship education.

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education held the "2025 Student Council Second Half Competency Training and 2nd Regular Meeting" on the afternoon of the 22nd at the Busanjin District Council Main Assembly Hall.

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education held the "2025 Student Council Second Half Competency Training and 2nd Regular Meeting" on the afternoon of the 22nd at the Busanjin District Council Main Assembly Hall and took a commemorative photo. Provided by Busan Metropolitan Office of Education

Prior to the regular meeting, student council members were divided into four subcommittees-environment, digital media, life and human rights, and culture, arts, and sports-where they held separate meetings. In each subcommittee, students identified issues in schools and education as a whole, and through discussion, developed specific agenda items to be presented at the main meeting.

Fifty-nine student council members attended the main session of the regular meeting, where they received competency training to strengthen their self-governance capabilities. They then reviewed and voted on the agenda items submitted by each subcommittee. Notably, Superintendent Kim Seokjun attended in person and held an open dialogue with the students, creating a forum for communication where student proposals could be reflected in policy.

The competency training on this day was led by Kim Jihyun, Vice Principal of Jurye Girls' High School, under the theme "The Direction of Leadership in Future Society and the Role of the Student Council." Vice Principal Kim emphasized the importance of leadership and responsibility required of student representatives in a rapidly changing social environment, and highlighted the role and significance of the student council.

During the regular meeting, after the presentation of each subcommittee's main agenda items, a Q&A session and discussion were held, followed by deliberation and voting. There was a strong response that the process of students discussing and deciding on educational issues themselves is a valuable lesson in living democracy.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun stated, "The experience of students directly considering educational issues and proposing policies is, in itself, an important aspect of democratic citizenship education," and added, "We will actively support the incorporation of valuable opinions from the student council into actual Busan education policies."