"From Gangbuk Middle School to Overseas Programs": How Lee Beomsu Is Transforming Education in Gongju

School Relocation Initiated with 5,000 Signatures
Overseas Experiences for 748 Middle School Students and 100% Child Care Support Achieved

Lee Beomsu, Member of Gongju City Council

Lee Beomsu, a member of Gongju City Council from the People Power Party, has been delivering results on key educational issues such as the relocation of a middle school in the Gangbuk area, the expansion of global education, and the strengthening of child care welfare, thereby shifting the direction of Gongju City's education policy.

He has also brought about structural changes to local education issues through the submission of civil complaints, securing of budgets, and the enactment of ordinances.

According to a comprehensive report by The Asia Business Daily on January 13, Lee Beomsu officially raised the issue of relocating a middle school in the Gangbuk area as an agenda item by submitting a petition with signatures from more than 5,000 parents and citizens to the South Chungcheong Provincial Office of Education in 2023. This was aimed at correcting the educational structure affected by overcrowding and hollowing-out.

In April last year, he also led a public discussion by organizing a legislative forum on the relocation of the Gangbuk middle school, attended by officials from Gongju City, the South Chungcheong Provincial Office of Education, and local schools.

As a result, a dedicated task force was established by the Office of Education, and the project advanced to the stage of formulating an implementation plan for the relocation.

Lee stated, "Relocating the middle school is not just about moving a school, but about restoring urban balance and the living environment for children," adding, "I will prove this with results, not just words."

Additionally, Lee secured a budget of 962 million won in 2024 for overseas field trip programs for middle school students, enabling 748 students from 15 middle schools in the Gongju area to participate in international educational programs.

He also promoted programs in cooperation with foreign embassies and diplomats in Korea to broaden students' global awareness and career perspectives.

Lee said, "Experiences in childhood determine one's perspective for life," adding, "I will pave the way for Gongju students to become talents who venture out into the world, not just remain in the local area."

Notably, the 'Gongju City Child Care Service Support Ordinance,' which Lee sponsored, provides 100% support for child care service costs to families with two or more children. This system was implemented for the first time in South Chungcheong Province. The ordinance was recognized for its policy effectiveness by being selected as the best ordinance in the civil service innovation category at the 2025 South Chungcheong Government Innovation Best Practices Contest.

He said, "Child care is not just welfare, but the starting line of education," adding, "Reducing the burden on parents ultimately enhances the competitiveness of the city."

Lee declared, "Gongju must become a city where education and innovation coexist, beyond just a city of history and culture," and pledged, "I will ensure that each of the education policies, including the Gangbuk middle school relocation, which have now entered the implementation stage, are completed with tangible results."