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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

16 Vocational Schools Selected for New Regional Talent Program

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Sixteen vocational high schools have been selected as "cooperative specialized high schools" to foster local talent aligned with regional industries.
  • These schools, a national project under the Lee Jae-myung administration, aim to create a cycle of learning, employment, and settlement within local communities.
  • The selected schools will receive government support and will begin recruiting students in 2027 after curriculum and faculty development.

South Korea has selected 16 vocational high schools to participate in a new "cooperative specialized high school" program, designed to cultivate talent tailored to the needs of regional industries. This initiative, a key national project under the Lee Jae-myung administration, aims to establish a sustainable model for vocational education that encourages graduates to find employment and settle in their local areas.

These newly designated schools, spread across 10 regions, bring the total number of cooperative specialized high schools nationwide to 36. Notably, this round of selections includes the first such schools in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Ulsan, expanding the program's reach. The program involves collaboration between local governments, education offices, schools, and industries, focusing on developing skilled workers for strategic regional sectors.

Cooperative specialized high schools contribute to building a virtuous cycle of region-specific talent development, local industry employment, and regional settlement.

— Choi Kyo-jinThe Minister of Education commented on the goals of the cooperative specialized high school program.

Areas of focus for the selected schools include advanced industries like semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). Specific examples include Busan's Geumsaem High School for power semiconductors and Incheon's Jae-neung High School for physical AI manufacturing. Other schools will concentrate on sectors such as shipbuilding, tourism, and aerospace, reflecting diverse regional economic priorities.

Selected schools will undergo a preparatory phase starting in the latter half of this year, involving curriculum reform and teacher training. They are slated to begin admitting new students in 2027. The Ministry of Education will provide significant financial support, up to 4.5 billion won per school over five years, and offer dedicated advisory teams to assist with curriculum development and operational planning.

The Ministry of Education will fully support cooperative specialized high schools so that technical talents can grow together with their regions.

— Choi Kyo-jinThe Minister of Education expressed the government's commitment to the program's success.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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