[Interview] Choi Hogwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, "Will Lay the Foundation for a Premium Lifelong Learning City"

March 31 Yonsei University, April 6 Seoul National University Successively Join Hands for Lifelong Learning Efforts to Establish a Virtuous Cycle Model of Lifelong Learning for ‘Learning, Sharing, and Growing’ ...Operating ‘Neulpureum School’ and ‘Kkumdeohagi School’ for Learning-Disadvantaged Groups...Guaranteeing Universal Learning Rights, Providing 200,000 KRW ‘Lifelong Learning Vouchers’ to 3,500 People Each

"We will create the best premium lifelong learning city where all residents of all ages can learn and acquire knowledge."

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, expressed his ambition for Yeongdeungpo’s leap to a premium lifelong learning city.

According to Statistics Korea, the participation rate of adults in lifelong learning in South Korea sharply decreased from 40% in 2020 to 30.7% in 2021. The lifelong learning ecosystem was also greatly weakened due to the decline in participation caused by COVID-19.

Mayor Choi said, "Since the second half of last year, when the spread of COVID-19 subsided, we have been actively rebuilding lifelong learning projects to prepare for the future society. We will revitalize the weakened lifelong learning ecosystem and create conditions where all residents can enjoy high-quality lifelong learning anytime and anywhere." He added, "Longevity society is a great achievement of humanity, but lifelong learning is essential to adapt to social changes caused by rapid technological development. Education should expand beyond focusing only on early life stages to include lifelong education and broaden the target of talent development to adults as well."

The first initiative was cooperation projects with prestigious universities. Mayor Choi has been taking swift steps toward a premium lifelong learning city by signing agreements with well-known domestic universities one after another.

First, on March 31, an agreement was signed with Yonsei University. For the first time nationwide, they decided to provide lifelong education services using ‘LearnUs’. LearnUs is an online education platform opened to the general public for the first time by a higher education institution. It offers over 700 courses and more than 4,400 video contents.

Starting in May, the district will promote the ‘Yeongdeungpo Learn (YDP Learn)’ project linked with Yonsei University’s educational resources, providing high-quality lifelong education services to many residents without restrictions of time and space.

Then, on April 6, they joined hands with Seoul National University. The results of a pilot project conducted last year led to this agreement. From April 12 to June 14, every Wednesday, a total of 10 sessions of the ‘Yeongdeungpo Knowledge Person’ lectures will be held. Professors from Seoul National University will deliver high-quality lectures in education, digital technology, science, trends, and other fields in a relay format.

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The next focus is on establishing a virtuous cycle model of lifelong learning. With the goal of ‘Learning, Sharing, and Growing,’ the YDP Talent Sharing Platform and Yeongdeungpo Lifelong Learning Activist Training Project are underway.

The Talent Sharing Platform is a resident-led lifelong learning project where any resident can teach and learn. Anyone who wants to share knowledge, talent, experience, or life wisdom can become an instructor or a learner.

Lifelong learning activists are individuals with expertise and leadership who support the lifelong learning growth of residents. They are dispatched to lifelong education institutions and engage in activities for neighbors and community development by utilizing the knowledge or skills they discover through learning.

‘Neulpureum School’ and ‘Kkumdeohagi School’ for learning-disadvantaged groups are also continuously operated. Neulpureum School is a school where elderly people who missed learning opportunities can receive academic certification without taking the qualification exam if they complete their studies. It offers elementary and middle school courses and graduates about 40 students annually.

Kkumdeohagi School is a commissioned alternative school for adolescents with developmental disabilities. Yeongdeungpo District is the only district in Seoul operating this school. It supports the independence of people with developmental disabilities through one-on-one customized education.

To guarantee universal learning rights, ‘Lifelong Education Vouchers’ are also provided. The vouchers are available to anyone aged 19 or older who does not overlap with government policy beneficiaries. A total of 3,500 people will be selected and supported with 200,000 KRW each. Selected residents can take courses from over 1,800 programs offered by about 120 institutions.

In addition, the district plans to develop and operate customized lifelong learning programs, support lifelong learning clubs, and operate the YDP Future Lifelong Learning Center to establish the image of a premium lifelong learning city.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, said, "Just as education was the foundation for our country’s past growth, lifelong learning will be the driving force for a new leap forward in the future. Education is no longer the exclusive privilege of students but a right that all residents of all ages should enjoy." He added, "We will do our best to create a premium lifelong learning city where residents of all ages and genders can nurture their dreams and talents and prepare for and create their own future."

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