Yoon Mi-yeon, Chairperson of the Jeonju City School Steering Committee Association, has been elected as the 23rd President of the Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province School Steering Committee Association (hereafter referred to as the Jeonbuk School Steering Association).

The Jeonbuk School Steering Association held its 2025 General Assembly on June 4 at the association’s meeting room, where Yoon was elected as the new provincial president through a competitive election. Earlier, on May 23, Yoon had also been elected chairperson of the Jeonju City School Steering Committee Association by winning the majority support of school steering chairs. Her successive victories at both the city and provincial levels reaffirmed her growing presence in the education sector.

The Jeonbuk School Steering Association is a consultative body composed of chairpersons from school steering associations in 14 cities and counties across the province. Each regional association consists of the chairs of school-level steering committees. These committees serve as participatory bodies that promote autonomy and democracy in schools, gathering opinions on local educational issues and acting as a communication bridge with the education office.

In her acceptance speech, Yoon stated, “With the recent expansion of school autonomy, various education policies centered around individual schools are being implemented. School steering committees have a critical role to play as intermediaries in this process.” She added, “I will do my utmost to ensure that all children have fair access to education and that creative, school-specific educational practices can be realized.”

Yoon also emphasized, “By maintaining close communication and cooperation with school-level steering committees, we will work to provide practical alternatives for education in Jeonbuk. I will fulfill a responsible role in ensuring that the voices of parents and the local community are reflected in education policy.”

In her campaign speech, Yoon proposed a threefold vision: “an active association, a communicative association, and a collaborative association.” She pledged to restructure the roles within the secretariat, activate online communication channels, and hold regular forums and policy discussions to build a transparent and genuinely participatory system.

This election drew attention both within and outside the education community, not only for choosing a representative but also for signaling a directional shift in the Jeonbuk School Steering Association. Yoon’s consecutive wins in both city and provincial elections are seen as a reflection of her balanced approach—neither opposing for opposition's sake nor acting as a rubber stamp for the administration. Instead, she has successfully championed both autonomy and action.

The outcome of this election, which favored balance over conflict and autonomy over subordination, is considered a meaningful turning point. It sets the stage for the Jeonbuk School Steering Association to emerge as a truly independent and responsible educational body.