Suncheon-si Jogok-dong Emerging as a New Educational Hub for Children and Youth

Dongcheon Village Education, Railroad Village Education, Jukdobong History and Culture Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Jogok-dong, located at the geographical center of Suncheon City, is emerging as a new educational site for children and youth in the Suncheon area, based on its historical, cultural, and ecological environmental resources.

The "Jogok-dong Village Education Autonomy Committee," selected for Suncheon City's village education autonomy promotion project this year, has been conducting education in connection with Suncheon Isu Middle School since 2018, centered around the Jogok-dong Railroad Workers' Village, through a public-private-academic collaboration as part of the Suncheon Village School creation project.

Students of Suncheon Isu Middle School learn that the Railroad Workers' Village was central to modern Korean history and railroads, and they also study the future of the unification railroad by moving between school and village.

This year, third-grade students of Shindae Elementary School received railroad village education, and school teachers and village activists jointly created the "Railroad Village Textbook."

Kim Hak-jung, representative of the Jogok Village Education Autonomy Committee, said, "It was a particularly meaningful year to be able to educate elementary and middle school students about Jogok-dong Railroad Workers' Village, symbolizing Suncheon as one of the nation's top five railroad cities, as well as about Korean railroads and the future of the unification railroad."

The beautiful Dongcheon River flowing through downtown Suncheon also became the stage for the Dongcheon Village Education Curriculum.

The Dongcheon Village Education Curriculum is Suncheon's first localized ecological environmental education curriculum, created over a year through collaboration among the Jogok-dong Administrative Welfare Center, elementary school teachers, village teachers, ecological environment experts, and the Suncheon Grassroots Education Autonomy Cooperation Center.

This year, third and fourth graders of Seongdong Elementary School and Samsan Elementary School received education through the Dongcheon Village Education Curriculum in the first and second halves of the year, encountering various organisms in Dongcheon and cultivating ecological sensitivity.

Lee Yoon-sook, a teacher at Samsan Elementary School, said, "Through this year's Dongcheon Village Education Curriculum, children who had a hard time due to COVID-19 were able to go out to Dongcheon, meet its organisms, and develop interest in and friendship with Dongcheon's birds and plants." She added, "Next year, we plan to implement the Dongcheon Village Education Curriculum for all grades."

A historical and cultural experience program utilizing the diverse historical and cultural resources of Jukdobong in Jogok-dong was also developed.

The Jogok Village Education Autonomy Committee trained the "Jukdobong Historical and Cultural Education Instructor Group" and conducted educational activities introducing Suncheon's history, culture, and figures such as Palmatap, Yeonjaru, Baekutap, Gangnamjeong, Teacher Kim Jong-ik of Useok, Teacher Kang Gye-jung, and Deputy Governor Kang Pil-ri.

Kim In-bae, Innovation Director of Suncheon Isu Middle School, emphasized, "We will strive to continue village education in 2021, where students learn about Suncheon's history, culture, ecological environment, and figures through the village, which is their living space."

Son Han-gi, head of Jogok-dong, said, "Places throughout Jogok-dong, including the Railroad Workers' Village, Dongcheon, and Jukdobong, are becoming learning spaces for children and youth in the Suncheon area," adding, "Next year, with the Jogok Village Education Autonomy Committee at the center, the resident autonomy committee's village education division activities will be more active, and Jogok-dong is expected to establish itself as a model for village education activities in the Suncheon area."

As the population of Suncheon's original downtown gradually decreases, the development of village educational resources and the activation of village education, along with the vigorous community activities centered on apartments, are expanding the perception of the area as a good place to raise children. Against this backdrop, the future of Jogok-dong next year is expected to open even more vibrantly.

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