Annual education administration council meeting held

Meal unit cost raised by 140 won, cost-sharing ratio adjusted

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su and Superintendent of Education Kwon Sun-gi pose with officials after signing an agreement at the education administration council meeting held at the provincial government building on Tuesday. [South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education]
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su and Superintendent of Education Kwon Sun-gi pose with officials after signing an agreement at the education administration council meeting held at the provincial government building on Tuesday. [South Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education]

South Gyeongsang Province and its provincial office of education held the 2026 South Gyeongsang Province Education Administration Council regular meeting at the provincial government building on Tuesday, reaching final agreement on six major education issues, including an increase in the per-meal food cost for school lunches. The meeting was attended by 13 officials from both agencies, co-chaired by Governor Park Wan-su and Superintendent of Education Kwon Sun-gi.

The two agencies discussed six agenda items that had gone through preliminary working-level consultations before signing a joint agreement. The items covered the adjustment of the cost-sharing ratio for school meal food expenses in 2027, an increase in the per-meal food unit cost, cost-sharing for meal support for children during school vacations under the Woori Ai Geongang Dosirak program for children at risk of going without meals, nurturing talent linked to local industries, activating a school commute safety consultative body, and drafting the 2027 special education account expenditure budget.

To ensure stable meal provision for students, the two agencies agreed to raise the per-meal food unit cost by 140 won for next year, reflecting the 2025 inflation rate of 3.4 percent. The cost-sharing ratio was also adjusted, with the provincial and municipal governments' share falling from 50 percent to 45 percent and the education office's share rising from 50 percent to 55 percent — a 5 percentage point increase for the education office.

The Woori Ai Geongang Dosirak program, which provides meals to children during school vacations, will maintain its existing cost-sharing ratio of 60 percent from the provincial and municipal governments and 40 percent from the education office, continuing support for children at risk of going without meals. To develop talent aligned with local industries, the two agencies will form a joint task force to pursue industry-demand-driven initiatives, and will activate a metropolitan-level school commute safety consultative body to improve conditions for students traveling to and from school. General account transfers from local governments will also be incorporated into the 2027 special education account expenditure budget to fund school operations and facility improvements.

"It is important that we cooperate to ensure that residents receive tangible benefits," Governor Park said. "Both agencies will work actively together to meet the educational expectations of the people of South Gyeongsang Province." Superintendent Kwon said he hoped the council meeting would "serve as a foundation for restoring the essence of education in South Gyeongsang Province and driving a great leap forward," adding that the two agencies would continue to cooperate to realize an education system that opens up the future for children.


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