Seo-gu Segundae in Gwangju Wins Top Prize at Korea Lifelong Learning Awards

Recognized for Initiatives Such as "Lifelong Learning Slse-gwon"

The representative lifelong learning brand of Seo-gu, Gwangju City, "The World's Largest University, Seo-gu" (hereinafter referred to as "Segundae"), received the Minister of Education Award, the highest honor, at the 22nd Korea Lifelong Learning Awards.

Seo-gu, Gwangju City received the Minister of Education Award, the highest prize, at the 22nd Korea Lifelong Learning Awards. Photo by Seo-gu, Gwangju City

According to Seo-gu on October 13, the Korea Lifelong Learning Awards is the nation’s most prestigious award in this field, hosted by the Ministry of Education and organized by the National Institute for Lifelong Education, recognizing and awarding outstanding cases that have contributed to the spread of lifelong learning culture across all sectors of society.

Seo-gu turned the absence of a university in the district into an opportunity, launching "Segundae" in 2023 to transform the entire region into a single university. The district has been promoting a resident-led lifelong education project focused on "learning, sharing, and creating together."

Additionally, Seo-gu was highly praised for establishing and operating 18 neighborhood campuses and learning playgrounds within a five-minute walk centered around the Seo-gu Lifelong Learning Center, effectively turning the entire district into a "lifelong learning Slse-gwon" (a coined term combining "slippers" and "living sphere").

The district was also recognized for creating a virtuous learning ecosystem in which residents return the knowledge they have gained to the local community, through initiatives such as training professional village activity supporters, village gardeners, and multicultural foreign language instructors.

Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang stated, "Segundae is a virtuous educational community where neighbors learn from and teach each other, growing together," adding, "We will continue to establish ourselves as Korea’s leading lifelong learning brand, further enhancing the quality of life and happiness index of our residents."

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