Gwangju-Jeonnam Education Administration Merger: What This Means for Students and Parents in 2026

[iNews24 reporter Han Bongsu] On May 5th, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education’s Gwangju-Jeonnam Education Administration Integration Working Preparation Team (hereafter Gwangju preparation team) and the Jeollanam-do Office of Education’s Jeonnam-Gwangju Education Administration Integration Promotion Team (hereafter Jeonnam promotion team) held their inaugural joint meeting at the Gwangju Office of Education, initiating discussions on administrative integration.

This meeting marked the first official gathering since the passage of the special law establishing the Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city. Both teams committed to pursuing education administrative integration as equal partners, setting a collaborative tone for the process.

During the meeting, the teams reached a consensus on three fundamental principles: ensuring zero disadvantages for students, parents, and staff; maintaining uninterrupted administrative services; and prioritizing stability over speed. They pledged to work together actively to prevent any disruption in schools during the transition.

To streamline the integration process, the Gwangju preparation team and the Jeonnam promotion team plan to conduct regular working-level consultations. This approach aims to enhance coordination of integration tasks and allow for joint review and management of key issues and initiatives, minimizing administrative gaps and confusion during the transition period.

Yun Yang-il, head of the Jeonnam Office of Education’s integration promotion team, emphasized, “This integration goes beyond merely merging organizations. Its core objective is to ensure the seamless continuation of educational activities in schools and public-facing administration. We will meticulously review standards and procedures to prevent any changes experienced by the education community during integration from resulting in service declines or support gaps.”

Kim Chi-gon, head of the Gwangju Office of Education’s preparation team, stated, “As the nation’s first metropolitan education administration integration, we are committed to making this a successful model that opens new horizons for educational autonomy in South Korea. By combining the strengths of Gwangju and Jeonnam education, we aim to generate positive synergies and ensure a stable integration process.”