Busan's education superintendent Kim Seok-jun announced a series of measures on July 8 to shield teachers from malicious complaints, deploy AI assistant teachers across all grade levels, and overhaul student assessments - a package of changes he said would prioritize safe education and personalized learning.
Protecting teachers from malicious complaints
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education will establish civil complaint response teams at each education support office to handle cases that individual schools struggle to manage alone. An emergency response system will provide legal, psychological, and administrative support to teachers whose educational activities are infringed upon. Kim also said the office would push to create a healing center for school staff to support their mental and physical well-being.
AI tools and new assessment methods
AI assistant teachers will be distributed across all grades to support personalized learning, and students will receive digital literacy education content designed for safe and responsible AI use. An AI Teaching and Learning Support Center and an AI-based essay-type evaluation support system will be established to improve the fairness and reliability of assessments. Customized academic improvement programs will target sixth-grade elementary and third-grade middle school students during school transitions, and advanced math and science courses will be offered to high school students.
For educators looking to build practical skills with these technologies, the AI for Teachers Learning Path offers structured training on integrating AI into classroom workflows. School leaders and instructors can explore broader adoption strategies through AI for Education Courses.
Career education and marine training
To strengthen career and vocational education, the office will create a career education team, an AI-based employment support platform, and a future job education center. A Marine AI Education Center and the Busan Student Marine Training Center will provide experiential learning in marine science and industries.
Global talent and arts initiatives
A glocal middle school in western Busan will focus on bilingual and international education as part of a global talent development plan. Ahead of the Busan Opera House opening in September 2027, the country's first opera academy using a closed school will be founded, and a musical instrument sharing center will expand school orchestras and arts education support.
A nonpartisan commitment
Kim said, "There can be no progressives or conservatives in education. I will be an 'education superintendent for all,' listening to voices from all sectors, including those who supported me and those who did not."
Why this matters for education professionals
For teachers and school administrators, the creation of civil complaint response teams and a healing center directly addresses the growing burden of malicious complaints, offering institutional backup rather than leaving staff to manage crises alone. The rollout of AI assistant teachers and a dedicated support center signals a shift toward data-driven, personalized instruction that will require new skills and collaboration with technology. The career and global education expansions also open opportunities for curriculum development and cross-disciplinary teaching roles.
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