Gangneung Launches 2026 Education Development Special Zone
Questioning Classrooms... Comprehensive Childcare in Action
Driving Educational Innovation from IB Programs to Integrated Childcare
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province is entering the third year of its Education Development Special Zone pilot project in 2026. The city will actively implement core policies for the Education Development Special Zone that children and parents can experience in their daily lives, aiming to make a leap forward as a premier education city.
This year, the core focus of Gangneung's education is on "thinking-based classes" and "reliable childcare." The city plans to dramatically strengthen the region's educational competitiveness by supporting the operation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and establishing the Gangneung-style integrated childcare system to improve the educational environment.
First, the IB education that drives classroom transformation will be fully implemented. The city will hold IB education information sessions for parents and education officials to enhance understanding and consensus on the direction of education, and will provide support to ensure the stable adoption of IB education in schools. In addition, to enable teachers to immediately apply these methods in the classroom, the city will operate IB teacher research groups and provide systematic capacity-building training, gradually expanding the foundation for Gangneung-style IB education focused on "questioning classrooms and inquisitive students."
Students will also be given opportunities to communicate with the world beyond the classroom. During the summer vacation, the city will run "Global IB English Camps" for second-year middle school students in New Zealand, Australia, and other countries. The purpose of these camps is not simply language study, but to foster a global mindset and communication skills, and to help students grow into creative and convergent talents as envisioned by IB education, through experiences of communication and inquiry in diverse cultures.
The childcare environment will also become more robust alongside education. To meet the real childcare needs of dual-income families, the city will expand night-time extended daycare centers and continuously increase the number of community childcare centers to minimize gaps in care.
Furthermore, the city has completed the establishment of an integrated information provision platform for children, allowing parents to access previously scattered childcare, education, and welfare information in one place. Starting in February, a one-stop service will be provided, greatly improving accessibility and convenience for parents.
Gangneung is also focusing on strengthening teacher capacity to ensure that IB education and childcare policies lead to tangible results on the ground. In 2025, the city conducted digital education innovation training for approximately 480 elementary, middle, and high school teachers, and this year will operate 10 teacher research groups to enhance teacher expertise in responding to AI and digital-based future education.
Gangneung City expects that this year's Education Development Special Zone initiatives will go beyond simple institutional support and become a key driver for creating sustainable living conditions where children can grow and parents can settle down.
A Gangneung City official stated, "This year is a crucial time for the Education Development Special Zone projects to bring about real changes in classrooms and childcare sites," adding, "We will create an education and childcare environment where children's learning and parents' daily lives both improve, making Gangneung a premier education city that people choose for its education, rather than leaving because of it."
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