Ulsan Superintendent of Education Jo Yong-sik Unveils ‘Ulsan Education That Makes Today Happy’ Vision on 100th Day in Office

【Financial News, Ulsan = Choi Soo-sang】 Jo Yong-sik, superintendent of education for Ulsan Metropolitan City, held a press conference on the 6th to mark his 100th day in office and unveiled a vision to pursue “Ulsan Education That Makes Today Happy,” building on efforts to restore trust in the educational community.
The superintendent said that over the past 100 days, he had reviewed all 1,171 Office of Education programs and discontinued or reorganized 776 similar, overlapping, or perfunctory programs.
He also said that they had developed a Ulsan-style shared-school model that opens school spaces to citizens and laid the groundwork for Oesol Education, Ulsan’s model of public education.
He identified guaranteeing basic academic skills as a top priority going forward. To improve literacy and numeracy among younger elementary school students, the office will introduce a Critical Period Responsibility Guarantee System and expand the “two teachers per class” system for first- and second-graders. It also plans to gradually reduce the number of students per class. Oesol Education will focus on question- and inquiry-based lessons, reading and discussion, and tailored Korean-language education.
In future education, the office will strengthen artificial intelligence and digital education and restructure departments at vocational high schools in collaboration with local businesses, universities, and local governments. It will operate a Student Growth Support Center to provide integrated learning, psychological, and welfare support, while also expanding transition semesters linking kindergarten and elementary school and establishing an Imagination Experience Center for Special Education.
Administrative tasks, including investigations into school violence cases, will be transferred to the Office of Education. The office will respond to malicious infringements on teachers’ authority in accordance with principles and protect teachers’ legitimate educational activities. It also plans to launch Ulsan Education Nuri, which shares school spaces with the local community, and expand the Emergency Lesson 119 Support Team.
In connection with the government’s push to reform local education finance grants, Superintendent Jo said, “Even as the school-age population declines, investment in future education—including digital education, easing overcrowding, and improving aging facilities—must increase.” He called for citizens’ and parents’ interest and support to secure stable education funding.

Superintendent Jo also unveiled five policy directions. The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to pursue 47 pledges and 155 detailed initiatives based on them.
The five policy directions are “More Enjoyable Learning,” “More Closely Tailored Support,” “Warmer Relationships,” “A More Sustainable Environment,” and “More Accessible Administration.”
In the learning area, 11 pledges include the Ulsan-style public education model, Oesol Education; the Critical Period Responsibility Guarantee System for basic academic skills; and the restructuring of vocational high school departments.
The tailored-support area includes eight pledges, such as establishing a Ulsan-style Student Growth Support Center and providing meal and snack subsidies for daycare centers. The relationships area includes 13, such as strengthening the school complaint response system and establishing an integrated communication system for parents.
The environment area includes nine pledges, such as ecological transition education drawing on the Taehwa River and the Yeongnam Alps, as well as Ulsan Education Nuri. The administration area includes six, such as expanding the Emergency Lesson 119 Support Team and unifying the system for handling education-related complaints.
All pledges are to be fulfilled during his term. By category, 18 are new, 24 are ongoing, and five combine new and ongoing initiatives.
[email protected] Choi Soo-sang Reporter