South Korean superintendents urge review of education finance reforms

Seven provincial superintendents of education in South Korea met with Kim Min-seok, representative of the Democratic Party, to express concerns regarding the government's proposed reforms to local education finance and the establishment of a 'future response fund'.

Led by Kwon Soon-ki, the chairperson of the Special Committee on Local Education Finance, the superintendents argued that education funding should not be reduced solely based on declining student populations. They emphasized that new financial demands are rising due to the transition to AI and digital education, the expansion of childcare services, the improvement of aging school facilities, and the need to ensure basic academic skills.

The group raised several technical concerns, including the basis for the 35% school-age population change rate and the potential impact on the current system where education grants are linked to 20.79% of national taxes. They requested that the legal use of the proposed future response fund be clearly defined to include primary and secondary education, ensuring that funds are not diverted away from schools.

Kim Min-seok expressed empathy with the educators, noting that more funding may be required for talent cultivation despite shrinking student numbers, and pledged to hold discussions within the National Assembly and the party to find alternatives.