Superintendent Seol Dongho of Daejeon: "Realizing Education That Opens the Future for Creative Convergent Talent"

Strengthening Future-Oriented Education Leading the Era of Educational Transformation
Establishing New AI Experience Centers and Expanding AI and Software Education Programs in Collaboration with Local Universities
New Year's Press Conference Outlines Key Policies for Daejeon Education in 2026

Seol Dongho, Superintendent of Daejeon Education (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

Seol Dongho, Superintendent of the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "Education creates talent, and talent shapes a new future," adding, "In 2026, Daejeon education will continue to pursue steady change and innovation so that our students can grow into creative and convergent talents who will lead the future. We will realize 'Happy Schools, Daejeon Education Opening the Future.'

On January 8 at 10:30 a.m., Superintendent Seol held a New Year's press conference in the briefing room of the city’s education office to mark the start of the Year of the Blue Dragon, where he explained the 'Key Policies of Daejeon Education for 2026' and made these remarks.

He expressed his aspirations for the new year, saying, "Daejeon education in 2026 will focus on realizing future-oriented education so that our students can develop the competencies needed in the rapidly changing society, opening the door to a happy future. We will devote ourselves to implementing diverse and substantial education policies in line with the era of educational transformation."

Superintendent Seol identified five core policies as the main focus for Daejeon education in 2026: ▲Strengthening creative and convergent education leading the future ▲Revitalizing innovative education that fosters learning and growth ▲Implementing responsible education that guarantees educational opportunities ▲Creating a safe and healthy educational environment ▲Realizing future education that evolves through educational innovation.

To strengthen creative and convergent education that leads the future, the plans include ▲Enhancing character, democratic citizenship, and history education to nurture the future ▲Supporting holistic growth through the activation of humanities, arts, and physical education activities ▲Strengthening scientific inquiry capabilities and expanding ecological transition education.

In addition, to revitalize innovative education that fosters learning and growth, the policies include ▲Expanding autonomy in school curricula and supporting the stable implementation of the high school credit system ▲Creating a learning-centered school culture that promotes growth through questions and participation ▲Fostering future talents through the enhancement of career and vocational education.

Furthermore, to implement responsible education that guarantees educational opportunities, the focus will be on ▲Strengthening tailored support for students to ensure basic academic skills ▲Expanding learning and experiential opportunities and support for students in special education ▲Promoting the integration of early childhood education and expanding after-school and care support in elementary schools ▲Establishing a customized integrated support system for students and guaranteeing educational opportunities.

Alongside this, to create a safe and healthy educational environment, the policies include ▲Strengthening school violence prevention and response capabilities to create safe schools ▲Establishing learning environments that support physical and mental well-being ▲Enhancing conditions that protect and support educational activities ▲Strengthening school safety infrastructure to ensure student safety.

Additionally, to realize future education that evolves through educational innovation, the focus will be on ▲Opening future classrooms through innovation in AI, digital, and IB-based instruction ▲Implementing glocal future education that extends beyond the classroom.

Seol Dongho, Superintendent of Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education (Photo by Mo Seokbong)

In particular, the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education is focusing on classroom innovation in the era of AI transformation, collaborating with AI and making inquiry and discussion a daily part of the classroom.

To this end, 24 AI-focused schools will be operated, and the number of AI digital utilization research and leading schools will be expanded to 35. There will be tailored training programs to enhance teachers’ digital-based instructional capabilities, including training for 1,000 general teachers, 500 leader teachers, and overseas training for outstanding teachers.

Additionally, new AI experience centers will be established, AI and software education experience programs in collaboration with local universities will be expanded, and a digital ethics education week will be held to enhance students’ AI and digital competencies, thereby realizing future-oriented classroom innovation.

Furthermore, the number of schools operating the IB program will be gradually increased. Teacher training for IB curriculum-linked classes and assessments, the development of IB education experts, and research groups for innovation in creative and convergent IB-based classes and assessments will be promoted to strengthen practical capabilities at the school level.

Understanding of the IB program among teachers and parents will be broadened through training sessions, and excellent cases of IB class and assessment innovation-centered on student-led discussion, debate, project learning, and written/narrative assessments-will be actively discovered and shared to spread a learner-centered instructional culture throughout schools.

The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education will also promote the realization of glocal future education.

The foundation for future education in connection with the local community will be continuously expanded. In the third year of the Daejeon Education Development Special Zone, science convergence education linked to the region’s science and technology and industrial infrastructure, as well as the fostering of autonomous public high schools 2.0 and specialized high schools through agreements, will nurture talent that grows together with the local community.

Moreover, by operating neighborhood after-school and care centers and village learning centers outside of schools, a glocal education model will be established in which the community collectively takes responsibility for student growth and care.

In addition, four school complex facilities will be steadily promoted to gradually create safe and high-quality spaces for learning, care, and culture.

At the same time, the formation of future education clusters will continue.

The Daejeon Career Convergence Education Center, which opened last year, will fully support students’ career exploration and experiential learning, and the Daejeon International Education Center is being accelerated with the goal of opening in May 2026.

The Hanbat Education Museum will also be steadily promoted for new construction and relocation by 2029, completing a glocal education hub that connects the history and future of Daejeon education.