South Korean educators protest local education grant reform

South Korean educators and regional superintendents are protesting a government plan to reform the local education financial grant system. The Ministry of Education has proposed a new formula that moves away from the current method of linking grants to 20.79% of domestic tax revenue, instead incorporating factors such as economic growth rates and changes in the school-age population.

The Korea Association of Superintendents of Education expressed deep concern that the 2027 budget was approved without sufficient consultation with educational stakeholders. They argue that the reform could negatively impact regional finances and essential projects, including digital education infrastructure and basic academic support. Similarly, the Daegu Teachers' Union has called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, accusing the ministry of abandoning previous promises to protect the existing funding ratio.

A report from the National Assembly Research Service has provided support for these concerns, noting that relying solely on the number of students as a metric for funding is problematic. The report suggests that because fixed costs for schools and staff do not decrease proportionally with student numbers, the new formula could disproportionately burden rural areas and small-scale schools, potentially widening educational gaps.