Yongin Mayoral Candidate Lee Sangil Vows to Build an Educational and R&D Startup City to Rival Gangnam – The Asia Business Daily

Sangil Lee, Yongin Mayoral Candidate, Announces Education Policy Pledges
New Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Planned for Pungdeokcheon 2 District, Giheung Station Area, Yangji-eup, Mohyeon-eup, and Samga-dong
Building a Network of Universities, Graduate Schools, and R&D Institutions Focused on Advanced Sciences such as Semiconductors and AI
Pursuing Autonomous Private High Schools and Semiconductor High Schools… Active Consultations for New Schools to Address Overcrowded Classes

“We will significantly enhance the city’s educational standards, aiming for Yongin to become an educational city on par with Gangnam and a research and development (R&D)-driven startup city.”

On May 23, Sangil Lee, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Yongin Special City, announced his specific policy objectives in the field of education, expressing a strong commitment to improving educational conditions for future generations and nurturing talent linked to advanced industries.

Through his pledges, Lee presented a blueprint to support children—the next generation—in receiving high-quality education in proper facilities. He also aims to connect local universities, graduate schools, and research and development institutions with advanced enterprises to develop the entire city as an R&D cluster.

Lee first emphasized, “To create educational conditions that rival those of Gangnam, we will actively support improvements in the quality of existing high schools, while also pursuing the establishment of new autonomous private high schools.”

He continued, “I have heard that Yonginsamgye High School and Baegam High School have seen significant improvements after being selected for the government’s Autonomous Public High School 2.0 program, and I will ensure other high schools receive active support as well.”

Various plans to establish new high schools were also introduced to expand students’ choices. Lee added, “To broaden students’ career options, we will open a high school specializing in semiconductors next year, pursue the establishment of an AI Arts Integrated High School, and also work to establish schools specializing in science or new technologies such as AI.”

Addressing chronic overcrowded classes in local areas such as Suji, Giheung, and Cheoin, Lee specified the regions and expressed his determination to tackle the issue head-on. He said, “We will focus on establishing new elementary and middle schools in Pungdeokcheon 2 District of Suji-gu, a middle school in the Giheung Station area of Giheung-gu, middle and high schools in Yangji-eup of Cheoin-gu, and high schools in Mohyeon-eup and Samga-dong. We will also actively consult with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education to resolve the issue of overcrowded classes.”

Lee also presented plans to revitalize the city-wide research and development network by linking local universities, graduate schools, and R&D institutions, particularly focusing on future advanced sciences such as semiconductors and AI. He stated, “To raise the city’s educational standards, it is very important to form a community of advanced science talent who will lead research and development in areas like semiconductors, AI, and robotics. We will actively support the establishment and revitalization of networks among local universities, graduate schools, and R&D institutions.”

In particular, regarding the semiconductor sector, Lee presented a detailed roadmap: “We will convert the high school specializing in semiconductors, opening next spring, into a Meister high school to train talent desired by semiconductor companies. We will work with relevant institutions and universities to operate joint ‘university and graduate school programs’ on a shared campus model and pursue the establishment of a ‘Global Semiconductor University and Graduate School.’ We will also consider forming joint research teams.”

Lee also proposed leveraging Yongin’s libraries, which are among the best in the country, as a means to further raise educational standards. He explained, “Improving the physical environment alone has its limits; active participation from citizens is essential. We will use Yongin’s top-class libraries to foster a city-wide learning atmosphere.”

As specific measures, Lee declared, “We will recruit more than 300 reading instructors to guide students’ reading activities at libraries throughout the city and provide various incentives to encourage students’ reading, as well as organize quiz competitions similar to the American ‘spelling bee.'”

To encourage parental involvement, he said, “Spreading a learning atmosphere requires active participation from parents, so we will expand the concept of ‘a library near home’ and actively support reading clubs at each library. We plan to increase the number of public libraries from the current 21 to at least 25 by 2028, improving citizens’ access to libraries and activating reading clubs so that students and parents can learn together as a community.”

Lee Sangil stated, “To build an education city that rivals Gangnam, if I am elected for the 9th popular administration, I will form a ‘Yongin Education City Task Force (tentative name)’ that includes not only education experts but also R&D and advanced science specialists, to establish a long-term plan for educational development. We will gather diverse opinions and ideas to comprehensively upgrade the city’s educational standards,” he declared.

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