16 schools in 10 regions selected as third cohort of contract-type specialized high schools; national total reaches 36; focus on AI, semiconductors and other strategic industries
By Kim Yong-jae, The Herald Business
Contract-type specialized high schools aimed at producing talent matched to local industry demand will open for the first time in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and Ulsan. The schools will focus on future strategic industries — including AI, semiconductors, biotech, aviation and satellites — and train students to build careers in their home regions.
The Ministry of Education on Monday announced the final selection of 16 schools across 10 regions as the third cohort of contract-type specialized high schools for 2026. The contract-type model brings together local governments, schools and businesses under a formal agreement to train workers for regional industries.
With the addition of the 16 schools, the number of contract-type specialized high schools nationwide has grown to 36. Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and Ulsan — regions that previously had no such schools — will each receive one for the first time.
AI-focused schools dominate this round of selections. They include Samil Industrial High School in Gyeonggi Province (AI robotics), Ulsan Industrial High School (AI smart manufacturing), Silla Industrial High School in North Gyeongsang Province (AI mobility), and Changwon Mechanical Technical High School in South Gyeongsang Province and Jaeneung High School in Incheon (both in physical AI).
![A breakdown of the 16 newly selected contract-type specialized high schools. [Provided by the Ministry of Education]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/08/news-p.v1.20260608.c3e8135f29c7462ca453788611e549e6_P1.png)
The remaining schools were also selected around future strategic industries. Geumsaem High School in Busan (power semiconductors), Chungbuk Industrial High School (biomedical), Jinju Mechanical Technical High School (aviation and satellites), Naju Technical High School (energy) and Gyeongju Information High School (cultural tourism) will each run specialized curricula tied to their region's strategic industries.
The ministry plans to provide up to 4.5 billion won ($3.27 million) over five years to help keep locally trained talent from migrating to the Greater Seoul area and to strengthen regional industrial competitiveness. The schools will begin restructuring their departments, retraining faculty and overhauling curricula in the second half of this year before accepting new students from the 2027 academic year.
Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin visited Incheon Jeongseok Aviation Science High School — a first-cohort contract-type school — on Monday to review its operations and hear on-site opinions. Since receiving its designation, Jeongseok Aviation Science High School has expanded its aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and added new departments to train specialists for the aviation industry.
"Contract-type specialized high schools contribute to building a virtuous cycle that connects the cultivation of locally specialized talent with employment at regional companies and long-term settlement in the region," Choi said. "We will actively support skilled workers so they can grow alongside their communities."
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