Students, parents, teachers and local community

to take part in public forum as four pillars of education

Jo Yong-sik (front row, center), superintendent of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, holds his inauguration ceremony at the office's main auditorium Wednesday afternoon, with about 300 staff members in attendance. [Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education]
Jo Yong-sik (front row, center), superintendent of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, holds his inauguration ceremony at the office's main auditorium Wednesday afternoon, with about 300 staff members in attendance. [Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education]

Jo Yong-sik, the 11th superintendent of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, held a staff-centered inauguration ceremony Wednesday and officially began his term.

Before the ceremony, Jo signed the administrative handover documents and gave his first official approval to a plan titled "Comprehensive Plan and Steering Committee for Restoring Trust in the Education Community," making it his top priority to address violations of teachers' rights and conflicts among school community members.

The plan aims to build an Ulsan education community in which the four key stakeholders — students, parents, teachers and staff, and the broader community — trust and respect one another.

Under the plan, a superintendent-led advisory body called the Ulsan Education Community Trust Restoration Task Force will be established, drawing about 20 members from the four stakeholder groups. The task force will deliberate on and advise the office on policies aimed at restoring trust within the education community.

In his inaugural address, Jo outlined six priorities: restoring trust in the education community; strengthening protections for students' right to learn and teachers' rights; supporting students' mental health recovery; reinforcing Ulsan's public education system; advancing future education centered on an AI education support center; and expanding education developed in partnership with local communities.

"I will keep schools at the center and pursue an education administration that puts students and teachers first," Jo said. "I will steadily lay the groundwork for future education in step with the changing educational environment."


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