Seoul Jung-gu Education Support Center 'E-Roum' Opening

<기사제목>Jung-gu Education Support Center Iro-eum with a total floor area of 837 pyeong from B2 to 3F opens on the 21st... Above ground, residents' green resting place Donghwa Resident Park, underground with 229 public parking spaces

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The core educational hub of Jung-gu, Seoul, the Jung-gu Education Support Center Iro-um (E-Ro-um, hereinafter 'Iro-um'), was finally unveiled to residents on the 21st.

Jung-gu (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) held small group on-site tours instead of an opening ceremony, providing residents with an opportunity to thoroughly explore the Iro-um space. The tour began at the Iro-um basement level 1 'Edu Library' with 26 local residents and village instructors gathered in one place, starting with a congratulatory message screening and a project progress report.

'Iro-um' is a school-outside-the-classroom base education center for local children and youth, constructed on the site of Donghwa-dong public parking lot (62-44 Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, and others, site area 3,021㎡), spanning from basement level 2 to the 3rd floor above ground, with a total floor area of 2,769㎡ (approximately 837 pyeong).

Originally, Jung-gu had planned to expand the Donghwa-dong public parking lot, which had sparked controversy over suspicions related to the Park Chung-hee Memorial Park. However, upon taking office, Mayor Seo Yang-ho of Jung-gu completely halted the project. After a comprehensive review of the project, Mayor Seo significantly revised the basic utilization plan, including canceling part of the exhibition space on basement level 2 aside from the parking lot expansion construction.

Subsequently, through a 100-person roundtable discussion, 22 resident meetings and public hearings, and the operation of a space planning group to gather diverse opinions, the outdoor space above ground was transformed into Donghwa Resident Park, a green healing rest area; basement levels 5 to 2 became a public parking lot with 229 spaces to alleviate chronic parking shortages in the nearby area; and from basement level 2 to the 3rd floor above ground was reborn as Iro-um, the educational control tower leading educational innovation in Jung-gu.

Since 'Iro-um' reflects numerous opinions from students, parents, teachers, and local residents, the spatial arrangement was also thoroughly planned from the residents' perspective.

In particular, the basement floors are filled with spaces where local youth can freely express their hidden talents and dreams. Basement level 2 houses a dance room, band room, video editing room, VR studio, and more. The highlight of Iro-um, basement level 1, includes a library, book cafe, creative studio, lecture rooms, multipurpose rooms, and the Jung-gu Education Welfare Center.

The above-ground floors are fully dedicated to supporting career guidance and academic learning. The 1st floor contains the Jung-gu Career Counseling Center and Education Information Lounge; the 2nd floor includes office spaces and meeting rooms; and the 3rd floor features a study cafe and other spaces that provide direct and practical support for career guidance and learning.

Participants in the tour were divided into two groups and followed different courses, carefully examining Iro-um, which will be a cradle of creativity and a learning space for Jung-gu youth. They toured each space from basement level 2 to the 3rd floor above ground, expressing positive reactions and expectations for the future of education in Jung-gu.

The district plans to continue conducting 'Iro-um Samsam-oo' on-site tours, allowing local residents, schools, students, and parents to explore the space in detail. The tours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Applications can be made directly on the Jung-gu Office website or by phone to the Jung-gu Education Support Center.

Additionally, the district will operate 24 various online and offline programs free of charge for local elementary, middle, and high school students from the 25th until August 31st in conjunction with the opening of Iro-um. For related information, inquiries can be made to the Jung-gu Education Support Center or by referring to the Jung-gu Office website.

Mayor Seo Yang-ho of Jung-gu, who participated in the tour, said, "The Jung-gu Education Support Center Iro-um (E-Ro-um) is a name born from a public contest, meaning 'gaining intellectual benefit together with Education.' As the name you gave it, it offers three benefits: resolving parking difficulties, providing green spaces, and supporting education. We will especially operate substantial programs to make this center a place full of benefits for the future generation, the youth."

Going forward, the district plans to develop various projects based on the Education Support Center Iro-um, including creative convergence education, career experience education, academic and learning support, after-school village school operation, and educational infrastructure construction.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.