The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education is completing a comprehensive free education and welfare system spanning kindergarten through high school by expanding "Busan-style education welfare." The plan aims to broaden the policy framework from support for vulnerable groups to universal education welfare encompassing all students.
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 3rd that it will significantly expand various education expense support policies starting this year with the goal of realizing Busan-style education welfare.
The most notable change is the full implementation of free private kindergarten education. Starting this month, free education will be provided to all children aged 3 to 5 attending private kindergartens in the region. As a result, Busan has now established a system of free meals and free education for all grades from kindergarten through high school.
To fulfill the purpose of free education, the education office secured 100% participation from all private kindergartens. It plans to strengthen administrative guidance by forming field inspection teams to ensure transparency in financial operations related to free education funding support.
Support for elementary, middle, and high school graduation album expenses will also increase. Eligibility has been expanded from households at 80% or below of median income to 100% or below, and the support amount has been raised from 70,000 won to 80,000 won per student.
Athletic uniform support for middle school freshmen will shift to universal provision. All incoming freshmen this year will receive athletic uniforms worth 70,000 won per student as in-kind support. The move aims to reduce the burden on parents by expanding support that was previously limited to low-income families.
Protection of student health rights will also be strengthened. The office allocated 360 million won from its own budget to expand medical expense support for students with Type 1 diabetes and intractable diseases. While previous support was limited to funds from sources such as the Community Chest of Korea Busan Chapter, the plan is to establish a more stable and sustainable support system going forward.
Superintendent Kim Seok-jun said, "I hope that the continued expansion of Busan-style education welfare will guarantee students' equal right to education and lead to substantive changes felt by parents and the local community." He added, "We will do our best to realize education welfare that cares for students thoroughly, like family."