Busan education chief Kim Seok-jun unveils five-pillar policy agenda at inauguration

Kim Seok-jun, superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, held an inauguration press conference at the office Wednesday and announced five policy directions: human-centered future education to lead the AI era; personalized education to develop both academic ability and emotional well-being; safe education to protect teachers and students alike; civic education built on mutual respect and consideration; and warm, happiness-centered education that supports families.

Under the first pillar, the office will deploy AI tutors suited to school settings across all grade levels to support learning tailored to each student's level and pace, and will reorganize the maker education experience center into an AI·maker education experience center. Information ethics education will be strengthened, and digital literacy education content will be developed·and distributed to create an environment in which students and teachers can use AI safely and responsibly.

Literacy·numeracy instruction and close monitoring of foundational academic skills will be guaranteed, with transition-period academic improvement programs for sixth-grade elementary and ninth-grade middle school students, and advanced mathematics·and science coursework for high school students to support tailored academic growth. Social-emotional education will be expanded so that all students can develop self-regulation and relationship-building skills within the curriculum, and at-risk students will be identified early and given intensive support.

A complaint-response team will be established at district education support offices to handle malicious complaints, and early dispute mediation along with legal·psychological·and administrative support systems will be refined so that teachers facing violations of their professional rights can receive immediate assistance. Administrative support teams will be expanded, and an AI assistant for school staff along with a work-automation integrated app will be distributed to allow teachers to focus on instruction. The establishment of a staff wellness center will also be pursued.

A "glocal middle school" focused on bilingual and international education will be established in western Busan, and a marine AI education center — where students can learn through hands-on experience with marine science and industry — will be set up to reflect Busan's standing as the nation's maritime capital. The creation of a Busan student marine training center offering professional maritime experiences and safety education will also be pursued.

To help students receiving special education participate stably in school life, the enrollment cap for inclusive classrooms will be reduced in stages, and the behavioral intervention support team at special education support centers will be expanded to 2.5 times its current size by 2030. Multicultural autonomous schools will also be designated·and operated to develop the strengths of students with immigrant backgrounds.

Field trip expenses will be fully subsidized for all grade levels, athletic uniforms will be provided to incoming high school students following the same support already in place for middle schoolers, and the completion of a Busan-style integrated early childhood education and care model will raise the public character of education by another level.

"There is no progressive or conservative in education," Kim said. "Building on past achievements and experience, and on a foundation of harmony and communication, I will look only to the children and complete the future of education in Busan."