Yangcheon District to Open "Y Education Expo 2026" on May 14

32 Programs, Over 150 Booths, and 70,000 Participants

On May 12, the Yangcheon District of Seoul announced that it will host the "Y Education Expo 2026" for three days from May 14 to 16 in the area surrounding Yangcheon District Office.

Launched in 2023 as the nation's first experience-based expo centered on "education" by a basic local government, the "Y Education Expo" marks its fourth edition this year and will welcome students and visitors from across the country under the theme of artificial intelligence (AI).

Opening performance scene at the "Y Education Expo 2025" held in May last year. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

With the slogan "AI Big Bang: Education Without Boundaries, Learning Without Limits," the expo will feature 32 programs and over 150 experiential booths across seven venues, including Yangcheon Park, the district office, Haenuri Town, and the Cultural Center. Approximately 70,000 participants are expected. The event is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS).

This year, generative AI, physical AI, and big data content have been introduced in all sections. The core program, the "Future Education Expo," will be held on the lawn plaza at Yangcheon Park. In the themed pavilion "AI Future Ground," visitors can experience Hyundai Motor’s Boston Dynamics quadrupedal robot, wearable and humanoid robots, and view an exhibition of the Tesla Cybertruck. Programs for creative activities using generative AI, such as AI music composition and AI webtoon creation, are also available. In the "Future Technology Education Experience Zone," participants can enjoy drone racing, AI dance challenges, AI stock trading simulations, virtual reality (VR) sports, and block coding game development.

Career and academic guidance programs will take place at the Yangcheon Community Sports Center, Haenuri Town, and the Cultural Center. Debuting this year, the "AI Talent Incubation Center" offers career exploration, aptitude tests, and counseling related to the high school credit system using AI simulations. On May 15, the main gymnasium at the Community Sports Center will host "One-on-One College Admissions Counseling" with admissions officers from 20 universities, including Gachon University, Dongguk University, Sejong University, and the Korea Military Academy. In the sub-gymnasium, 15 professional consultants will provide learning and academic guidance for elementary, middle, and high school students. Admission experience booths for over 30 specialized high schools, including special-purpose, vocational, and art high schools nationwide, will also be available.

On May 14 and 16, the National Youth Competition will take place at the Yangcheon District Office Digital Media Center and Community Sports Center. Events include the "Mathematical Structures Competition" using motion-recognition AI and coding, the "AI English Speech Competition" based on generative AI, and the "National Youth Drone Soccer Competition," which has expanded its participation to include youth. Outstanding participants in the three competitions will receive a total of 21.5 million won in prize money, along with awards such as the EBS President’s Prize, the Seoul Mayor’s Prize, and the Yangcheon District Mayor’s Prize.

Lecturers from Korea and abroad will participate as well. On May 15 at the Digital Media Center, Sam Richards, professor at Pennsylvania State University, will give a lecture titled "In the Age of AI, Korea’s Education Will Change." This will be followed by the "Y-Education Forum" moderated by Park Tae-woong, chair of the Noxa Forum. On May 14, neuroscientist Dr. Jang Dong-sun will deliver a "Star Mentor Lecture," and on May 14 and 15, the special stage at Yangcheon Park will host the "Career Rock Talk Concert" with TV personality Jang Dong-min and KAIST AI researcher Heo Seong-beom. There will also be admissions and learning strategy lectures by EBS’s leading instructors Yoon Yun-gu, Sim Ju-seok, and Yoon Hye-jung, as well as lifelong learning lectures by profiler Kwon Il-yong, writer and actor Cha In-pyo, and communication and relationship expert Park Jae-yeon.

At the "Lifelong Learning Festival," 36 experiential booths—including AI passport photo creation and customized perfume making—will be set up along the path between the district office and Yangcheon Park. On Mokdong Gaon-gil, an outdoor exhibition will display AI-recreated artworks by lifelong learners and children with special needs. For preschoolers and lower grade elementary students, the "Kids Play Zone" will feature activities such as "AI Lego Coding," "AI Interactive Drawing," and the "Battle Robot" ride experience.

The expo will kick off at 11 a.m. on May 14 with an opening performance by violinist Kim Yeon-a and physical AI drawing pioneer artist Yeom Dong-gyun. The finale, a "K-POP Concert" featuring Beatpella House, Stella Jang, and N.Flying, will take place at 5 p.m. on May 16. Detailed schedules are available on the official "Y Education Expo" website (www.yeducationfair.com).

A district official stated, "We hope this expo will be a meaningful opportunity to share the value of education where everyone learns and grows together, through the blending of experiences and learning across generations," adding, "We will continue to build an educational city where education knows no boundaries and learning has no limits."

'Y Education Expo 2026' main poster. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

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