DONGDUCHEON — Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province earned an A grade, the highest rating, in the 2025 annual review of the pilot program for education development special zones, demonstrating steady progress and strong results in the initiative. In last year's review, the city was promoted to leading-district status and secured an additional 500 million won in project funding.
The city said on the 16th that it scored well in this review for systematic programs in education, childcare and global skills that reflect local conditions. Evaluators paid particular attention to the city's tailored cooperation bodies, including a local education council bringing together the private sector, government and schools, along with a family support council.
The city also drew praise for enacting an ordinance in May to promote local education innovation, which established a legal and stable foundation for the program.
Since being designated a pilot education development special zone in March 2024, the city has sharpened its education competitiveness around three pillars: a city where it is good to raise children, a city that nurtures global talent, and a city that nurtures talent for future industries.
Key projects include the Dongteuri smart safety shuttle bus service, construction of a global talent education center serving northern Gyeonggi Province, the designation of schools leading in software and artificial intelligence, a cultural content training course, and a Dongducheon-EBS center for self-directed learning. Through these efforts, the city is working to expand childcare and education infrastructure while strengthening students' global skills and ability to study independently.
"This A grade is the fruit of pursuing education policies that carefully reflect local characteristics," Dongducheon Mayor Park Hyung-duk said. "We will further develop a locally tailored education model by linking the cooperation framework and results built through the special zone program with follow-up policies such as designation as a leading district for education innovation."
