"Google Government Creation" Yoon Seok-yeol Also Hints at Elementary to High School Curriculum Reform

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at a meeting of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies held on the 21st at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, announced on the 21st that he will establish a bipartisan Education Reform Committee to reform education in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

After attending a meeting with the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies on the same day, Yoon told reporters, "We are entering an era of great transformation. It has become difficult to sustain with the 3- or 4-year knowledge acquisition education system from the heavy and chemical industry era," he said.

He added, "If we remain bound by past habits and systems, all problems cannot be solved, and the country will fall to a second- or third-rate nation," and said, "The way to solve these problems is high growth, and I believe what can lead this is hyperconnected science."

He emphasized that during the next five years of government, the framework of the academic system and education system will be newly established. Currently, Korea's academic system is '6-3-3-4': six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, three years of high school, and four years of university. Yoon pointed out that this is an "academic system created at the end of the 19th century," and said, "We need to create a framework on how to nurture talents who can become leading countries in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution."

Yoon also explained, "Rather than focusing on new technology development, students should study algorithms extensively to create practical value by applying the vast, open information like the ocean to real life and solving social problems, shifting to a problem-solving-centered approach."

He referred to the planned digital platform government as a "Google government," stating that he will eliminate barriers between ministries, digitize data through AI algorithms, and make decisions based on scientific conclusions. Yoon said, "Although various reviews are needed, we will appoint science and technology experts to the highest government positions and establish a National Science Committee directly under the president."

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