Yoon vows to transfer educational authority to local gov’ts

Nov 03, 2023, 10:00 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech in a ceremony to mark the Day of Local Autonomy and Balanced Development at a convention center in the city of Daejeon on Nov. 2, 2023. / Source: Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed Thursday to transfer the central government’s authority over the country’s education system to local governments and actively support educational reform in the region.

At a ceremony to mark a day for local governments and balanced development in Daejeon, the president called for local governments to lead educational reforms as any region should be able to foster globally competitive talents through education that respects diversity and openness.

“Education and welfare are the most important areas for workers and their families, which are key to a region’s ability to attract businesses and thus, the essential of the balanced development of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon said.

The event was first held since the implementation of the “Special Act on Decentralization and Balanced Regional Development” and the launch of the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development in July.

“In the event businesses in the capital area relocate to the regions, we will provide exceptional tax benefits and regulatory favors, giving institutional support to regions to host companies,” the president said. “In order to ensure the health and safety of workers, talents and their families, the government will quickly establish a system to provide essential medical services in the regions and push for local medical reform policies,” he said.

“The central and local governments as well as local communities should all work together and run hard,” Yoon said.

On the first comprehensive plan on decentralization and balanced regional development unveiled by the committee, Yoon said, “The plan is focused on education, medical service and culture in regions that are essential for attracting businesses into regions.”

The plan, which combines five-year plans for decentralization and balanced development, was confirmed after deliberation by the State Council last month.

The Ministry of Education and the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development on the same day revealed a draft plan for a specialized zone for education development.

The specialized zone will prepare education development strategies and special zone operation models that connect and support early childhood care, elementary, secondary and university education, and will be provided up to 10 billion won for three years.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #regional development #education