The re-election of Seoul Education Superintendent Jeong Keun-sik is expected to give momentum to existing Seoul education policies. Jeong put forward the complete elimination of early childhood education fees and support for commuting transportation costs as pledges distinguishing him from his previous by-election campaign.
After taking office through a by-election in October 2024, Jeong first approved the basic plan for the "Learning Diagnosis Growth Center," an educational institution that diagnoses and individually supports students struggling with learning due to issues such as dyslexia and borderline intellectual functioning. Following the opening of four centers last year, the program has been expanded to 11 district offices of education.
Jeong plans to install additional Learning Diagnosis Growth Centers in all 25 autonomous districts of Seoul, and intends to place basic-academic-skills specialist teachers at every school.
In addition, he plans to establish the "Comprehensive Plan to Promote Mental Health of Seoul Students," while in September a "Mind Healing School" providing treatment and education to students in psychological and emotional crisis will be completed, beginning related support in earnest.
During his second term as superintendent, Jeong is expected to put weight on pledges such as the complete elimination of fees for early childhood education for children aged 3 to 5, support for public transportation costs for commuting to and from school, and the elimination of fees for field-trip learning. He also plans to deal firmly with the issue of infringement on teachers' rights.
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), education to cultivate children's "ability to think for themselves" is also expected to be strengthened. To this end, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to promote close reading of paper books, long-form writing, and face-to-face debate, while operating 3,000 reading clubs and 200 future-oriented reading and culture complex spaces.
