Governor Won Hee-ryong and Superintendent of Education Lee Seok-mun met and agreed to work together on four projects including inter-Korean exchange programs.
However, some important issues such as creating detour routes near the Seogwipo Students' Cultural Center haven't been discussed.
Todd Thacker reports.

[slug] Educational Administration Council meets at Provincial Office
Governor Won Heeryong and Superintendent of Education (이석문) Lee Seok-mun met last week to discuss education related matters.

[slug] Meeting delayed by 1 week
They were supposed to meet at the end of last month, but the meeting was unexpectedly delayed by a week to allow for more preparation.

[slug] Won: Jeju plays leading role in educational administration
Governor Won said at the meeting that the Provincial Office of Education (PoE) plays a leading role in educational administration, especially in free school meal policies for high schools.
He reiterated his intention to actively cooperate with the education office.

Won Hee-ryong / Governor
It’s not an exaggeration to say the island is leading the nation in educational welfare.
[ 원희룡 / 제주도지사 ]
"제주가 우리나라 교육복지를 이끌고 있다고 해도 과언이 아닙니다 "

Lee Seok-mun / Superintendent of education
We have produced tangible results at meetings of the Educational Administration Council.
[ 이석문 / 제주도교육감 ]
"우리는 그동안 교육행정협의회에서 전국이 부러워하는 결실을 만들었습니다. "

[slug] Consensus on 4 agenda items
The two heads agreed on four agenda items at this year’s Educational Administration Council meeting.

CG-IN

The province will financially support after-school programs for students with special educational needs based on an annual evaluation.
A part of revenue collected by the provincial government for educational purposes can be spent by the education office beginning next year.
The province also agrees that it will fully support inter-Korean educational exchange projects organized by the PoE.
And from next year the two offices will each contribute half of the total funds required for education welfare services for students in need.



CG-OUT

[slug] Other important issues not discussed
However, the province’s highest consultative body failed to discuss other important issues.

[slug] Road issues near Seogwipo Students' Cultural Center not discussed
Residents living near the Seogwipo Students' Cultural Center have expressed concern about the creation of detours in the area. The province and the education office have very different standpoints on how to proceed.

[slug] No agreement on hot button issue

In fact this controversial issue was omitted not only at the meeting, but also during preliminary working level meetings.
By contrast, at last year’s Educational Administration Council meeting, the two heads reached a consensus on free school meal policies for high schools.
Sixty percent of the budget for the free meals comes out of the provincial office’s coffers thanks to last year’s agreement.

[Reporter] Todd Thacker
[Camera] Jwa Sang-eun

In terms of hot button issues that receive public attention, this year the province's highest consultative body has come up short in the eyes of some island residents.

Todd Thacker, KCTV