Gwangju City and Office of Education Begin Discussions on Educational Integration Linked to Administrative Merger

Participation in the Promotion Council through Joint Declaration
Agreement to Review Educational Issues in Special Legislation

Gwangju City and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education have officially begun discussions on integrating the education sector, in line with the ongoing movement to promote administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.

On January 7, Gwangju City and the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education held a meeting in the city hall’s business room, where they shared the need for educational integration following the administrative merger of Gwangju and Jeonnam, and announced the 'Joint Declaration for the Successful Grand Integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam and Educational Innovation'.

'Joint Declaration for the Successful Grand Integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam and Educational Innovation'. Provided by Gwangju City

At the meeting, both institutions agreed that the launch of the tentatively named Gwangju-Jeonnam Special City is a pressing task of the times, aimed at overcoming the risk of regional extinction and establishing a foundation for future growth.

The joint declaration states that the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education supports the purpose of the Gwangju-Jeonnam administrative integration and will closely cooperate with Gwangju City to ensure the stable launch of the integrated special city. It also includes the Office of Education’s participation in the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Promotion Council', where it will jointly discuss educational issues during the drafting and review of special legislation.

Additionally, both parties agreed to reflect the opinions of those in the education field throughout the integration process and to continue cooperating to foster educational innovation and nurture future talent in ways that citizens can truly experience. During the meeting, opinions were also exchanged on how to operate educational autonomy and the need for institutional improvements in response to the administrative integration.

Superintendent Lee stated, "The legitimacy of administrative integration has been secured amid a shared understanding of the issues of regional extinction and national policy tasks," adding, "Since there are many topics to discuss in the education sector, we will work through them one by one in cooperation with Gwangju City."

Mayor Kang said, "There has been significant interest in educational issues during the administrative integration process," and expressed hope that, "as discussions with the Office of Education have taken place in a timely manner, the integration will ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for city and provincial residents."