The construction of the AI High School in Gwangju will begin next year.
The administrative issues have been resolved, with the government agreeing to fully cover the school's operating costs. The opening date has been pushed back to 2029, two years later than initially planned.
The AI High School will be established as a dormitory school affiliated with the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in the Cheomdan 3 District of Gwangju.
According to the Gwangju Metropolitan City on November 10, the necessary administrative procedures and cost-sharing arrangements for the establishment of the AI High School have been finalized, allowing construction to commence next year.
The issue of operating costs was resolved last December when the government agreed to cover the entire amount. This year's government budget includes 3.14 billion won for the school's establishment.
While Gwangju had requested full national funding for operating costs, there were conflicts as the government initially sought to increase local funding contributions. Ultimately, it was decided that the costs would be fully covered by the national budget.
The process of changing the designation of the land from industrial and business use to school use has also recently been completed.
The AI High School is a key project in Gwangju's initiative to cultivate AI talent and establish itself as a leading city in education connected to universities, graduate schools, and an AI academy.
In 2023, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Gwangju city government began the project, and in 2024, a revised law allowing the establishment and operation of the gifted school affiliated with GIST passed the National Assembly.
In August 2024, the National Research and Development Project Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Science and ICT confirmed the exemption from preliminary feasibility studies, giving momentum to the project.
However, progress was stalled due to disagreements between the government and Gwangju over who would bear the operating costs.
The AI High School will have a capacity of 150 students, with plans to select 50 students per grade from across the country.
The school will implement a credit system and a non-grade system, focusing on specialized education in AI and leveraging GIST's research and educational infrastructure.
A Gwangju city official emphasized, "All administrative procedures necessary for construction have been completed, and we expect to begin construction next year, with the school opening in 2029."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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