What Makes Geumcheon-gu an Ideal City for Raising Children?

Four Major Experience Schools Where Everyday Life Becomes Education (Science, Environment, Health, Musical School)
Strengthening Future Competencies Based on Science and Technology (Geumcheon Science Cube, Geumcheon Future Science Classes)

"By standing on stage, I realized what I truly love."

This is what a student who participated in the Geumcheon-gu Musical School said. It illustrates that a child's career path begins with life experiences rather than test scores.

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seonghoon) is strengthening its career experience-oriented education policies so that children can discover their aptitudes and dreams, rather than focusing solely on academic achievement.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's "2023 Youth Comprehensive Survey," 42.6% of adolescents have taken a career psychology test, 41% have explored career paths during class, and 34.5% have received career counseling. However, only 27.3% have participated in career experience activities, indicating a need to expand opportunities for hands-on, field-based career exploration.

The district operates programs such as ▲ Four Major Experience Schools ▲ Science Education Platform ▲ Global Citizenship Practice School. Through a variety of experiential opportunities both inside and outside of school, the district supports youth in exploring and concretizing their own dreams.

The 'Four Major Experience Schools' Where Everyday Life Becomes Education

Geumcheon-gu operates the Four Major Experience Schools?▲ Environmental School ▲ Health School ▲ Science School ▲ Musical School?so that students can discover their interests and aptitudes through experiences in various fields.

The Environmental School helps students understand the importance of environmental protection and the climate crisis through activities such as school garden cultivation, ecological experiences, and programs at the Geumcheon Eco Center. Students develop ecological sensitivity and a sense of responsibility by directly engaging in eco-friendly activities.

The Health School runs programs such as walking on the playground on the way to school, providing morning snacks, individual health assessments and counseling, and nutrition education to help students develop healthy lifestyle habits and support their healthy growth. The Science School increases students' interest in science through hands-on programs such as Geumcheon Science Cube-linked education and Future Science Classes.

The Musical School is centered around the Geumcheon Musical Center, Korea's first specialized facility for musicals, which opened in 2021. Participating students gain confidence and experience the joy of cultural and artistic activities by directly engaging in all aspects of musicals, including acting, singing, and stage production. The program also supports students in developing creativity and expressive skills through specialized education and stage performances, while helping them grow emotionally in a healthy way.

Last year, approximately 21,000 students participated in the Four Major Experience Schools, gaining valuable opportunities to discover their aptitudes and dreams through diverse experiences.

Strengthening Future Competencies Based on Science and Technology... Science Cube and Future Science Classes

The district is also focusing on supporting science education to foster scientific imagination and problem-solving skills among youth.

The Geumcheon Science Cube, a specialized science experience space, offers hands-on programs on various topics such as robotics and the metaverse. Students can experience cutting-edge technologies firsthand, deepen their understanding of science and technology, and explore potential career paths.

In addition, the Geumcheon Future Science Classes provide various hands-on science education opportunities each year. This year, the district plans to operate a residential Geumcheon Future Science Camp in collaboration with universities equipped with science education infrastructure.

To increase interest in science and spread scientific culture, the district also holds the Geumcheon Science Festival annually. Through a wide range of programs?including drone, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) experiences, science lectures, and special exhibitions?the festival enables both youth and local residents to enjoy and experience science in an accessible and engaging way.

Cultivating Global Talent Reaching Out to the World

In a changing global environment, not only language communication skills but also open-mindedness and the ability to understand and accept different cultures are becoming increasingly important. Geumcheon-gu operates a variety of global education programs so that youth can pursue their dreams on the world stage.

The "Global Talent Academy" supports youth in naturally developing foreign language communication skills and a global perspective through courses in English and Chinese, English storybook mentoring, and global citizenship education programs.

The district also operates the "Global Citizenship Practice School," which supports overseas field trips and international exchanges with sister schools abroad. These programs help students experience diverse cultures abroad and broaden their perspectives as global citizens. In 2024, a total of 68 students from five high schools visited the United States, Japan, China, and Taiwan. This year, to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, the district plans to operate the "Geumcheon-gu Dokdo Guardians" program, which will take elementary students on a field trip to Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

Additionally, the Geumcheon Future Scholarship Foundation operates the "Challenge! Global Exploration Team" program to foster global talent and reduce educational disparities. Outstanding students are selected and given opportunities to travel abroad, helping them develop a spirit of challenge and pride as they look toward the world.

Notably, in March 2025, six selected high school students participated as representatives of Korea at the UN International School (UNIS-UN) conference in New York, engaging in passionate discussions with youth from around the world on the theme "Beyond Algorithms: Exploring the Future of Artificial Intelligence." The students underwent a six-month pre-education process, during which they discussed global issues from various perspectives and gained invaluable experience in broadening their worldviews.

Yoo Seonghoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, stated, "Career development is not simply a process of choosing a university or a job, but a journey in which children design their own futures. We will continue to actively support children so that they can discover their own dreams and boldly set out into the world through diverse experiences and learning opportunities."

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