Assemblyman Yoon Young-deok Holds Discussion on Expanding and Developing the 'Lifelong Education Voucher'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Yoon Youngdeok, a member of the National Assembly (The Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Dongnam-gap), announced on the 30th that he held a discussion forum on ‘Expansion and Development of Lifelong Education Vouchers to Realize the Guarantee of Lifelong Learning Rights for All Citizens.’

At the forum co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education, Professor Park Yoonsu of Sookmyung Women’s University gave a presentation on ‘The Effects and Implications of Lifelong Education Vouchers,’ and Lee Hyejin, Director of the Lifelong Learning Policy Division at the Ministry of Education, presented on ‘Mid- to Long-term Policy Directions for Lifelong Education Vouchers.’

In the discussion, Professor Jeong Minseung of Korea National Open University served as the chair, with participants including Lee Jaesoo, Director of Lifelong Education at Nonsan City Hall; Kim Youngcheol, Secretary General of the Korea Association of Distance Universities; Kim Seongcheon, a user of lifelong education vouchers; and Hwang Jaekyung, Director of Wuman General Social Welfare Center.

The ‘Lifelong Education Voucher’ is a lifelong education usage right provided by the government to respond to the lifelong learning needs of economically marginalized groups and to guarantee opportunities for voluntary participation in learning activities.

Since its implementation in 2018, the program is now in its fourth year. In the 2020 National Assembly Education Committee’s audit, Assemblyman Yoon requested an expansion of the target groups and budget in line with the program’s purpose, resulting in the budget being doubled.

Assemblyman Yoon stated, “With the budget doubled, this year 15,000 people are targeted, and 7.4 billion KRW has been allocated. However, with 2.14 million basic livelihood security recipients and 940,000 near-poverty class individuals, the potential demand is 3.08 million people, so the budget is still grossly insufficient compared to the demand.”

He continued, “Today’s forum will serve as an opportunity to expand support and interest in the still insufficient lifelong education vouchers,” adding, “I will do my best to guarantee lifelong learning rights for all citizens as stipulated in Article 31 of the Constitution.”

The forum was held with only presenters and discussants attending on-site to comply with national quarantine guidelines and was broadcast live via YouTube.

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