Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“The happiness of the military and their families is national security”

Ministry of National Defense signs MOU with the Ministry of Education on autonomous public schools for the children of military personnel

Friends facing similar challenges! Let's study together here!

The nation’s only best practice for the children of military families

Government plans to designate autonomous public high schools “modeled on Hanmin High School”

A special grant of KRW 100 million will be provided every year

Ensuring flexibility in student recruitment and curriculum

Improving the welfare and quality of life of military families

Improving the education of the children of military personnel has been the primary welfare policy of the Ministry of Defense. The aim is to address the challenges military personnel face in educating their children due to frequent relocation and poor living conditions, and to promote more stable working conditions, thereby strengthening national security. On March 11, the Ministry of National Defense signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education to promote autonomous public schools for the children of military personnel.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, 79% of military personnel move residences at least 10 times during their careers. Additionally, 50% of military children in primary school have changed schools at least twice, and 25% of military families live separately to ensure their children receive proper education. A survey conducted for the 2023-2027 Basic Military Welfare Plan revealed that respondents identified residential conditions (40.5%) and children’s education (24.6%) as the areas requiring the largest attention in military welfare.

When President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the 5th Infantry Division and met with military families last December, he said: “The happiness of soldiers and their families is national security. Therefore, we will make efforts to improve the quality of life of military families by improving their environments in addition to the welfare improvements that have been already implemented so far.”

This MOU is significant in that it will provide substantial educational benefits to military families. It aims to establish autonomous public high schools by modeling the Hanmin High School, and to dramatically improve the educational conditions for the children of military personnel.

Hanmin High School, which opened in 2014, is a private general high school and is currently recognized as the only best practice of public education for the children of military personnel. The school recruits children from military families and outstanding local students, and has demonstrated high academic achievement through the development of an autonomous, creative curriculum. Out of 350 graduates of the school this year, about 70 were admitted to Seoul National University, Yonsei University and Korea University, the school said. About 20 students were admitted to the Korea Military Academy, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.

 Defense Minister Shin Won Sik (right) and Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education give speeches at the MOU signing ceremony held at Hanmin High School on March 11.

Students of the Hanmin High School attending classes.

The autonomous public high school for the children of military personnel promoted by the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Education does not involve the creation of a new school. Rather, it conversions existing schools to accommodate the children of military families.

The autonomous public high school is an innovation project led by the Ministry of Education aimed at revitalizing public education and improving educational conditions. The Ministry of Education and the regional Office of Education will provide funds for this project. Autonomy is granted in the recruitment of students and faculty members, as well as the operation of curriculum. The Ministry of Education plans to designate autonomous public high schools at the city and provincial levels. Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that at least one of these schools is assigned to serve the children of military personnel.

The autonomous public high schools for military children will be established and operated by local governments and funded by the relevant local governments and the regional Office of Education. The Ministry of Education will provide a special grant of KRW 100 million per year to the designated schools. The principal will be appointed through open recruitment by the superintendent of education. Teachers can be recruited entirely by an invitation system.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, “We will allow flexibility in the recruitment of students and the operation of education programs, and will make use of professional consulting. We will review the eligibility of applicant schools and recruit students from 2026.”

The ratio of students recruited is not fixed, but the children of military personnel will be recruited nationwide by revising special regulations. Students living in the region where the school is located, will be also eligible to apply. Hanmin High School consists of the children of military families (70%) and children of Gyeonggi-do residents (30%). The Ministry of National Defense will actively work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the selected school grows as an outstanding autonomous and competitive school in various aspects including school operations, curriculum, teaching staff management, etc.

By Hyun-woo, Seo <lgiant61@dema.mi.kr>

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