President Moon Visits Gongju... Celebrates Groundbreaking Ceremony of First National Vocational Special School

Gongju National University Affiliated Special School Expands Educational Opportunities for Socially Vulnerable Groups

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] On the 29th, President Moon Jae-in attended the groundbreaking ceremony of Gongju National University Affiliated Special School, the first national vocational education institution in Korea for students with disabilities, and promised to expand educational opportunities for socially vulnerable groups.

President Moon stated, "We expect to revitalize vocational education directly linked to students' career paths and employment, and to cultivate the capabilities that enable them to become independent members of society after graduation."

The Blue House explained that President Moon's attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony of the special school in Gongju at the end of this year aligns with the national policy goal of strengthening educational support for socially vulnerable groups.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On this day, President Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-sook participated together and shared their thoughts. Until now, events related to students with disabilities were generally overseen by the First Lady, but this time, President Moon also visited, lending additional support.

The event was also attended by Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Choi Hye-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Ye-ji of the People Power Party.

The presence of President Moon and the First Lady along with lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties at the event reflects a consensus that help must be provided to students with disabilities whose educational opportunities have been limited due to social prejudice.

Earlier, the image of parents of students with developmental disabilities kneeling and pleading to persuade local residents opposing the establishment of Seojin School, a special school in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, caused a social shock.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Students with disabilities attended special schools in their respective regions during the period of compulsory education, but faced interruptions in their educational curriculum when entering society.

As social integration became difficult, the economic hardships of parents increased, and the students themselves repeatedly faced restrictions on their right to live with dignity as human beings. President Moon pledged to expand special education during his candidacy, and the groundbreaking ceremony of Gongju National University Affiliated Special School marks the first step toward realizing this national agenda.

Meanwhile, Gongju National University will establish a vocational education specialized affiliated school, Pusan National University will establish an arts specialized affiliated school, and Korea National University of Education will establish a physical education specialized affiliated school. The Gongju National University affiliated school plans to provide education in promising future fields such as baking and confectionery, smart agriculture, and companion animal care.

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