Jo Ok-hyun, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member, "Mokpo Must Enhance Educational Competitiveness to Survive"

Jo Ok-hyun, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] A claim has been made that educational competitiveness must be strengthened to prevent population extinction in the Jeonnam region.

Jo Ok-hyun, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Mokpo 2), stated in a 5-minute speech on the 16th, "Education should be the source of regional development and overcoming the population extinction crisis," and added, "We must gather the wisdom of the entire educational community so that Mokpo can grow into a city that is good for education and a city where people stay because of education."

He continued, "Due to population decline and low birth rates, the school-age population is rapidly decreasing, and students are leaving Jeonnam to find better educational environments for university entrance," adding, "Educational competitiveness must be enhanced to drive regional development."

Assemblyman Jo appealed, "The number of elementary school students in the Mokpo area is expected to drop from 14,352 this year to 12,038 in 2025, a decrease of more than 2,000 in three years, indicating a serious decline in the school-age population," and emphasized, "To make Mokpo a city good for raising children and education, we must improve the educational environment and increase educational competitiveness."

He also demanded, "We need to resolve educational imbalances between new towns such as Hadang and Okam and the old town, and prepare customized alternatives such as school relocation, individualized learning and tailored education, and attracting educational institutions to the old town."

He stressed, "If the high school currently under discussion in the Okam district is relocated, the remaining school space should be utilized as an opportunity for the development of the old town by attracting institutions such as a youth cultural center and educational community community spaces."

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