Kim Sangkwon Pledges "Character First, Academics Second... Building Gyeongnam Education That Puts People First"

Announcement of First Pledge in Character Education for Students

Kim Sangkwon, a preliminary candidate for Superintendent of Education in Gyeongnam, announced his first pledge in the field of character education at a press conference on March 5, 2026. He stated, "It is time for Gyeongnam education to choose a clear direction," adding, "I will shift the focus to education that prioritizes character first and academic achievement second, building a foundation of nurturing people above all else."

Sangkwon Kim, preliminary candidate for Superintendent of Gyeongnam Office of Education, is announcing policy pledges.

Kim formalized his character-centered education policy by declaring, "The government should take responsibility for basic academic skills, while schools should be responsible for fostering character through arts and physical education, creating a balanced education system." He presented three specific action plans to implement this policy.

He emphasized, "A child's first teacher is their parent," and added, "Education can only be set right when families are set right." To this end, he announced plans to establish a 'Parents' University' in each education support office under the Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education, offering permanent online and offline lectures.

The lecture programs will include practical and field-oriented content such as: ▲Character education for children ▲Guidance on daily life ▲Prevention of digital addiction ▲Response to school violence ▲Parental psychology and conflict management, and all programs will be provided completely free of charge.

Kim explained that those who complete the program will be appointed as 'Parent Education Leaders' and encouraged to participate in local educational community activities—thereby establishing a character education system in which both families and schools share responsibility.

He also stressed, "Arts and sports are the most powerful forms of character education," but pointed out, "Currently, access to opportunities is determined by economic means."

Accordingly, he announced plans to establish a public 'Gyeongnam Arts and Sports Talent Foundation' in cooperation with the Office of Education, local governments, and companies. The foundation will promote: ▲Support for scholarships in arts and sports ▲Support for participation in national and international competitions ▲Mentoring by experts ▲Expansion of public after-school arts and sports programs.

Kim emphasized, "It is the responsibility of public education, not private education, to nurture talent."

He also proposed institutionalizing a system in which every student regularly participates in at least one arts activity and one sports activity.

Kim stated, "Preventing school violence and fostering a sense of community ultimately start with character education in daily life," and added, "Arts and sports activities will transform classroom culture and change students' lives."

Finally, Kim Sangkwon emphasized, "Character cannot be taught solely through textbooks—it is naturally developed through family, school, and participation in arts and sports activities." He concluded, "I will ensure that Gyeongnam education is firmly oriented towards character by building academic achievement on a foundation of education that puts people first."

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