Ulsan education office secures 9 self-directed learning centers in national selection

Nine schools nominated by the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education have been selected in the Ministry of Education's 2026 Self-Directed Learning Center competition. Including Sungsin High School and Munhyeon High School, chosen last year, Ulsan now has 11 centers — the fourth-highest count nationally, behind Gyeonggi Province (22), North Gyeongsang Province (14) and Seoul (13).

The self-directed learning center program is a public-education-based initiative designed to help students build the capacity to study independently. A total of 100 centers are now in operation — 48 selected last year and 52 this year.

This year's nine newly selected Ulsan sites are: Bangeojin High School, Nammok High School and Hyundai High School in Dong-gu; Hyojeong High School in Buk-gu; Ulsan High School in Jung-gu; Seonggwang Girls' High School and Wooshin High School in Nam-gu; and Ulsan Gyeongui High School and the Ulju-gun Self-Directed Learning Center (operated in partnership with the local government) in Ulju-gun. Last year, two schools were selected: Sungsin High School in Jung-gu and Munhyeon High School in Dong-gu.

The centers will begin operating in October. Through EBS, the Ministry of Education's designated operating agency, they will provide learning diagnostic programs and a range of study materials tailored to each student's level. Learning managers hired by EBS will also be stationed full-time at each center to help students set study plans and track their progress.

"The self-directed learning centers will help strengthen students' capacity for independent study and reduce their reliance on private tutoring," an official at the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education said. "We will continue to push forward a range of self-directed learning support policies, centered on general-track high schools."