Jung Geun-sik, Seoul superintendent and chair of the Korean Council of Superintendents of Education. [Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]
Jung Geun-sik, Seoul superintendent and chair of the Korean Council of Superintendents of Education. [Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]

Superintendents across the country are mobilizing a collective response after the government began reviewing a plan to overhaul the formula used to calculate local education grants — moving away from the current system tied to domestic tax revenue toward one that factors in the school-age population and economic growth rate. The superintendents plan to reaffirm their support for the existing grant regime and discuss how to engage the government and National Assembly, as well as potential joint action with education groups.

The Korean Council of Superintendents of Education held an emergency video conference Wednesday morning with superintendents from across the country. In his opening remarks, council chair Jung Geun-sik said the debate over reforming the local education finance grant system "is entering a critical phase directly tied to the fiscal foundation of our education system."

The government and fiscal authorities are discussing a shift away from the current formula, which links grant calculations to 20.79 percent of domestic tax revenue, toward a system that reflects nominal growth rates and changes in the school-age population.

The superintendents raised objections not only to the substance of the proposed reform but also to how it is being pursued. Jung criticized the process, saying that "even as discussions on changing the basic framework of the system have begun in earnest, the process of adequately gathering and reflecting the views of the metropolitan and provincial offices of education — which bear direct responsibility for local education finances — has been severely lacking."

He said that while "the efficient management of education finances is a challenge we must all work through together," it is equally important to ensure "that the stability and sustainability of education are not undermined in the process."

The council has issued a series of objections since the reform debate began. At a meeting of superintendent-elects on June 15 and an emergency council session on July 10, members shared concerns about the proposed overhaul and issued joint statements. On July 29, the council held a public forum titled "How should we respond to the reform of the local education finance grant system?" to discuss the current state of education finances and concerns from schools about the proposed changes.

Direct lobbying of the government has also continued. On Aug. 12, Jung and the Incheon superintendent met with the education minister to convey their position that the current grant system must be preserved. On Aug. 15, the Daegu superintendent followed up with a phone call to the minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, reiterating the same stance.

The central question at Wednesday's emergency meeting was expected to be how far the council should escalate its response. Members discussed what position the council should take on both the content of the government's proposed reform and the way it is being pursued.

Key topics included whether to continue pushing for the current tax-linked formula and how to secure the stability and predictability of local education finances even if some form of reform goes ahead. The agenda also covered how to convey the superintendents' position to the government and National Assembly, and what consultation procedures to seek going forward.

Whether to join forces with the broader education community, which has also been pushing back against the reform, was also on the table. Teachers' unions, parent groups and civic education organizations have staged sit-ins, held press conferences and organized joint actions in opposition to the overhaul. Some groups have called on the council to mount a joint response and have even proposed a collective demand to the government under a shared name.

The council was set to decide Wednesday how far to align with teachers, parents and civic groups and what form any joint action would take. Depending on the outcome, a joint statement or formal demand to the government signed by all 17 metropolitan and provincial superintendents could follow. The council also said it would discuss when and how to publicly release any joint position.

Jung said the local education finance grant issue "is not a problem for any single metropolitan or provincial office of education — it concerns the stability of education across the country and the foundation of educational autonomy." He added that he would "listen carefully to the superintendents and work out a reasonable response that can stably support the education of our children."


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