New Year Address Lim Tae-hee, Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education

Respected members of the Gyeonggi education family,

Citizens of Gyeonggi Province! The new year of 2026, the Year of the Horse (丙午年), has dawned.

With the arrival of the new year, I wish all your planned endeavors to proceed smoothly, and I pray that you will start the year with vigor under the spirit of the red horse.

It has now been three and a half years since I took office as superintendent of education of Gyeonggi Province in the fifth elected term, with the vision of 'The Center of Future Education, New Gyeonggi Education.'

I express my deep gratitude to all members of the education family who continue to dedicate themselves to Gyeonggi Future Education today.

Last year, Gyeonggi Office of Education was recognized as a top-tier provincial office of education in various domestic and international evaluations.

In the 2025 Ministry of Education evaluation of provincial offices of education, we achieved all 21 indicators (All Pass) and were selected as the most excellent provincial office of education.

We also achieved excellent evaluations from various civil and government organizations in artificial intelligence innovation and the achievement rate of campaign promises.

Furthermore, excellent cases of Gyeonggi education taking the lead in future education were formally introduced in UNESCO's official report.

We also received an official proposal from UNESCO to become a 'Key Partner' in future education.

These achievements of Gyeonggi education are not the result of any one individual, but the fruit of dedication by each and every member of the Gyeonggi education family.

The reason the world views the direction of Gyeonggi education positively is because all of you have participated with unwavering hearts.

I feel great pride in the changes and development of Gyeonggi education that teachers, students, staff, and parents have created together.

The educational achievements we have accumulated through cooperation can only be sustained when trust and confidence are added by education stakeholders.

In the new year of 2026, I hope we will all work together to carry forward this momentum and ensure that the value of Gyeonggi education, recognized by the world, becomes even more solid.

Dear members of the Gyeonggi education family,

The world in which students will live is a society coexisting with artificial intelligence.

To not teach and utilize this in schools is the same as covering children's eyes and ears while asking them to look toward the future.

Just because handwriting helps emotional development does not mean we can prohibit writing emails or documents on computers.

Rather than unconditionally blocking smartphone use because it is harmful, it is more desirable educational activity to guide and teach proper use of devices and cultivate internet etiquette.

If public education turns away from changes of the times, people will ultimately turn to private education. In this regard, the introduction of artificial intelligence platforms in school classes and evaluations can be utilized as useful supplementary tools that help teachers fulfill their educational roles.

When teachers use Hi-Learning AI Essay and Written-Response Evaluations to reduce grading time, teachers can focus more on student educational activities, and students can participate more actively in classes while independently identifying their strengths and areas for improvement.

In this way, Gyeonggi education leads future education and responds proactively to changes of the times.

With the belief that when Gyeonggi education takes action, it becomes the standard for the Republic of Korea, we will continue to work on establishing administrative support systems for school staff and operating artificial intelligence-based educational support systems to help parents resolve their children's educational concerns.

Respected members of the Gyeonggi education family!

Gyeonggi education will continue to do its best in education centered on students, education preparing for students' futures, and education in which everyone grows.

At the same time, we must ensure that the foundation of Gyeonggi education that we have built over time continues without wavering.

Particularly this year, the Gyeonggi education foundation of 'autonomy, balance, and future' could potentially waver due to various factors inside and outside education.

However, education more than anything must maintain its center and proceed steadfastly in any circumstance.

If we have pride and confidence in the path we are taking, we can overcome any challenge to Gyeonggi education.

I will fulfill my given responsibilities with a sense of accountability in any situation.

If there is responsibility on the right path forward, I will gladly take on that responsibility and move ahead.

Members of the Gyeonggi education family and citizens of Gyeonggi Province!

The path Gyeonggi education must take is clear: cultivating students' basic character and fundamental competencies, implementing personalized education for all students, and guaranteeing fair educational opportunities for everyone.

We must carefully support the creation of high-quality educational environments and the meaningful operation of curricula so that no one is excluded from education, and we must fairly provide educational opportunities in all circumstances.

We know how to set education right and are making earnest efforts for the essence of education, but there is one great wall we constantly face.

That is the 'university entrance examination system.' In a situation where artificial intelligence and digital technology are advancing daily and countries around the world are engaging in advanced technology competition, we can no longer expect the future of Korean education under the current university entrance system that ranks students by correct answers and College Entrance Exam scores.

Reform of the university entrance examination system is a timely imperative that can no longer be delayed for the completion of Gyeonggi Future Education.

It is a task that must be improved to restore the essence of education and open a happy future for students.

I face the new year of 2026, the Year of the Horse (丙午年), with this sense of mission and responsibility.

In my position of being responsible for one-third of Korean students, I will not lose my original intention as superintendent of education, incorporating the educational aspirations of 180,000 school staff and 14 million Gyeonggi Province residents, and move forward without wavering toward the completion of Gyeonggi Future Education.

I extend my sincere gratitude once again to everyone who has come together with shared purpose and added their strength.

I hope that in the new year, Gyeonggi education will achieve a greater leap forward on the basis of increased trust.

Wishing all members of the Gyeonggi education family good health and a Happy New Year.