Seongdong-gu Reappointed as 'Convergence Innovation Education Special Zone' Through 2029

Seongdong-gu in Seoul is accelerating its push to become a future education city, extending its "Seongdong Convergence Innovation Education Special Zone" designation through 2029 on the strength of more than a decade of investment in education.

The district was reappointed as the Seongdong Convergence Innovation Education Special Zone through 2029 under a Ministry of SMEs and Startups notice issued Aug. 27.

The reappointment means the district will have held special education zone status for a total of 15 years, dating back to its first designation in 2015.

The scope of specialized projects will also expand — from 22 sub-projects across four fields to 26 starting in 2027 — as the district moves to further strengthen its education city policy by linking future education with local resources.

The reappointment recognizes the accumulated results of more than a decade of education investment and specialized programs built around local assets. Since receiving its initial designation, Seongdong-gu has consistently expanded education hubs across future education, career development, global programs and lifelong learning — including the Global Experience Center, the Seongdong AI Future Technology Experience Center and a lifelong learning center. Last year, more than 45,000 people participated in programs at major education hubs, reflecting steady growth in the district's education environment and its ability to meet diverse learning needs.

The district has also pursued specialized education that connects Seongdong-gu's distinctive industrial, cultural and ecological assets to learning. Local resources — including the Seongsu-dong handmade shoe industry, K-culture tourism, social ventures, Seoul Forest and Eungbongsan — have been woven into educational and experiential content. Ties to local festivals such as the Onmaeul Festival Wageuljwageul and the Taejo Yi Seonggye Festival, along with the operation of a joint handmade shoe sales venue, have helped channel the benefits of the education zone program into the local economy.

Building on the reappointment, the district plans to strengthen cooperation among schools, community organizations and educational institutions, and to continuously expand education programs tailored to a rapidly changing environment and the needs of each generation.

For children and teenagers, the district will broaden education in AI and other skills needed for the future. Youth will receive support for career exploration and entrepreneurship, while adults will have access to a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities in everyday settings. Through this all-generation approach, the district aims to ensure that a strong education environment translates into improved living conditions and a more vibrant local economy, and plans to carry out the education zone program with substance and rigor.

"Since the education zone designation, we have steadily built Seongdong's educational competitiveness through consistent investment and by connecting local resources," Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said. "With this reappointment, we will take our achievements to the next level — nurturing the talent that will lead the future and building a lifelong learning city where every generation can enjoy the opportunity to learn."