A 180-member policy think tank has officially launched to outline the next four years of Jeong Geun-sik's tenure as Seoul Superintendent of Education. Jeong described the committee as an 'open governance' body that will gather input from the community and stakeholders, marking the beginning of a significant overhaul of his educational promises.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the inauguration of the 'Learning is Happiness Seoul Education Committee' on June 17 at 1:30 PM in the conference room of the new building in Huam-dong, Yongsan District. The committee will begin work on developing a concrete blueprint for Seoul's education.
The committee's two main tasks are to establish the vision and indicators for Seoul education and to create a detailed implementation roadmap for Jeong's promises. The committee will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30.
Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University's School of Law, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, with Ham Young-ki, former head of the Education Policy Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, serving as vice-chair. The organization is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 divisions), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members.
The specialized committees will focus on realizing Jeong's five key promises, which include: completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, promoting mental health and restoring educational communities, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening learning safety nets and basic academic skills, and building a 'Reading Seoul' ecosystem connecting schools, communities, and the city.
After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong emphasized the importance of the committee's openness and communication with the community in his remarks. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open but also that the voices of citizens and everyone wishing for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee's work."
He added, "This committee is not just led by the superintendent alone but is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint execution, and joint evaluation' through thorough discussions. I urge everyone to work together to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education system."
Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee would operate more effectively than those in the other 16 cities and provinces.
Chairman Kim Jae-hyung articulated an educational vision grounded in constitutional principles, highlighting the importance of basic education. He stated, "Education, like housing, healthcare, and care services, is not a privilege but a right that must be prioritized, especially basic education."
He further committed to ensuring that public education fulfills its responsibilities, including guaranteeing basic academic skills regardless of a child's background, and pledged to rigorously verify the implementation of each promise from a rights-based perspective.
The committee plans to enhance the quality of its promise implementation plans through focused discussions and deliberations in each division. The final results of their activities will be compiled into a white paper and made transparently available to the public within 30 days after the committee's conclusion.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced the inauguration of the 'Learning is Happiness Seoul Education Committee' on June 17 at 1:30 PM in the conference room of the new building in Huam-dong, Yongsan District. The committee will begin work on developing a concrete blueprint for Seoul's education.
The committee's two main tasks are to establish the vision and indicators for Seoul education and to create a detailed implementation roadmap for Jeong's promises. The committee will operate intensively for 44 days, concluding on July 30.
Kim Jae-hyung, a former Supreme Court Justice and current professor at Seoul National University's School of Law, has been appointed as the chair of the committee, with Ham Young-ki, former head of the Education Policy Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, serving as vice-chair. The organization is structured with a steering committee (12 members), an advisory committee (19 members), specialized committees (21 divisions), and special committees (3), totaling 180 members.
The specialized committees will focus on realizing Jeong's five key promises, which include: completing constitutionally guaranteed free education, promoting mental health and restoring educational communities, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening learning safety nets and basic academic skills, and building a 'Reading Seoul' ecosystem connecting schools, communities, and the city.
After attending a session at the Seoul City Council, Superintendent Jeong emphasized the importance of the committee's openness and communication with the community in his remarks. He stated, "I hope that not only the committee's composition is open but also that the voices of citizens and everyone wishing for the advancement of education in our country are fully reflected in the committee's work."
He added, "This committee is not just led by the superintendent alone but is a starting point for establishing 'joint planning, joint execution, and joint evaluation' through thorough discussions. I urge everyone to work together to ensure that the proposed tasks lead to substantial changes in Seoul's education system."
Recently elected as the 11th president of the National Association of Education Superintendents of Korea, Jeong expressed his hope that the Seoul committee would operate more effectively than those in the other 16 cities and provinces.
Chairman Kim Jae-hyung articulated an educational vision grounded in constitutional principles, highlighting the importance of basic education. He stated, "Education, like housing, healthcare, and care services, is not a privilege but a right that must be prioritized, especially basic education."
He further committed to ensuring that public education fulfills its responsibilities, including guaranteeing basic academic skills regardless of a child's background, and pledged to rigorously verify the implementation of each promise from a rights-based perspective.
The committee plans to enhance the quality of its promise implementation plans through focused discussions and deliberations in each division. The final results of their activities will be compiled into a white paper and made transparently available to the public within 30 days after the committee's conclusion.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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