Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the education office building, Dec. 12. Courtesy of the SMOE

Seoul's school system is grappling with mounting challenges amid rapid technological advancements and growing ethnic diversity, according to the head of the city's education office.

"Policies need to better reflect the voices of education sites to drive meaningful change and tackle the pressing issues in Korean education," Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

The number of multicultural students in the capital has surged over the past decade, with many foreign-born students arriving midway through or late in their schooling years growing by 178 percent, while an 80 percent increase was recorded among multicultural students born in Korea.

"These students often struggle with significant communication barriers and difficulties adapting to school life due to cultural differences, language barriers and abrupt changes in their environment," Jung said.

In response, the SMOE has outlined a comprehensive plan to address these challenges. Its core objectives include providing equal educational opportunities for multicultural students, narrowing educational disparities and fostering a culture of mutual respect where diverse cultures can coexist.

Jung Keun-sik, fourth from right, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, poses with the staff at the Seoul Multicultural Education Support Center, Dec. 12, during his visit to gather insight on the challenges multicultural students face. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

The office is implementing a range of targeted policies and initiatives to meet these goals.

A major focus of the policy is enhancing Korean language education for multicultural students. By creating a tailored support network, the office offers programs adapted to each student's Korean proficiency, as well as their school level and the concentration of multicultural students in their classes.

Additionally, Jung emphasized the need for a two-teacher system in classrooms with a high concentration of multicultural students, adding an additional instructor to support the primary teacher.

"Students who have hardships understanding Korean need teachers who can both teach the language and communicate in their native language to provide effective support," he said. "Individuals from multicultural backgrounds need to step into roles as instructors, class helpers or teachers to better manage and assist these students."

However, Jung acknowledged that budget constraints pose significant challenges. He also called for structural changes to enable better local management of teacher recruitment.

"The Ministry of Education currently oversees teacher appointments centrally, but the authority to determine the number of teachers needs to be transferred to each education office to make these initiatives feasible," he said.

In 2025, the SMOE plans to launch a Korean language preparatory school as part of efforts to strengthen support for Korean language education.

It will offer a three-month intensive Korean language program for students who struggle to communicate in Korean. After completing the program, these students will return to their regular schools and receive additional support to help them adjust to school life.

Initially, the program will start with two institutions, with plans to gradually expand to 11.

Jung Keun-sik, right, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, discusses support measures for schools with a high concentration of multicultural students at Seoul Younglim Elementary School in southern Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District. Dec. 12. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

Jung also stressed the need to overhaul the education system in response to rapid changes in society, particularly driven by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

"The traditional competitive education model no longer fits the AI-driven era," he said. "Collaboration, communication skills and creativity are now essential."

He emphasized that this transformation requires not only changes in teaching methods but also structural reforms in university admissions.

"We must move away from rote memorization and standardized testing, like the multiple choice-based Korean college entrance exams, which are no longer sufficient," Jung said. "If the university admissions system doesn't change, there's no chance for reform in lower education, as the focus will remain on preparing students to enter university."

He suggested fostering discussion and critical thinking in schools with engaging classes such as reading, debate and expressing students' ideas, so they can develop the confidence to ask questions and innovate.

"Such educational initiatives must be supported by universities that prioritize these skills in their admissions process," he said.

Regarding the rise in deepfake crimes involving minors this year, Jung stressed the importance of preventive education over legal action.

"The essence of education is teaching students the right way to prevent such situations, rather than relying solely on judicial measures," he said.

He said many students are unaware of the seriousness of misusing deepfake technology, including creating manipulated or explicit content, with some dismissing it as a mere prank.

In response, the SMOE is advocating for stronger digital ethics education.

"We need to teach students that such actions infringe on human rights and are morally wrong," Jung said.

He also criticized the growing trend of "judicialization" in education, where disputes are increasingly resolved through lawsuits, arguing that it deters teachers from taking proactive roles.

Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, delivers a speech at the 2024 Seoul Education Policy Forum held at the Seoul Education Research and Information Institute in downtown Seoul, Dec. 6. Yonhap

Jung then underscored the importance of comprehensive education reforms, saying that meaningful change goes beyond policy adjustments.

"Education reform isn't just about changing policies. It requires structural and cultural shifts as well," he said.

He stressed the need for societal attitudes toward education to evolve, urging parents and students to rethink its purpose.

"Education shouldn't be about chasing the top rank — it should be about creating an enjoyable and meaningful learning experience," Jung said.

He added that true reform can only be achieved through a combination of policy improvements, structural changes — such as prioritizing university admissions criteria — and a cultural shift in how students and parents perceive the true purpose of education.