Lee Chang-geun Spokesperson: "'2030 Committee' to Create Seoul Vision, Not a Presidential Campaign"... Core Tasks to Be Announced Mid-July
Education Platform 'Seoul Run' Expanded from Vulnerable Groups to Seoul Citizens... 27 Billion Won Invested Over 3 Years
Seokjun Lee, Chairman of the 'Seoul Vision 2030 Committee'
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government clarified that the participation of Lee Seok-jun, chairman of the 'Seoul Vision 2030 Committee,' in former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign has nothing to do with next year's presidential election. The 'Seoul Vision 2030 Committee' was formed by Mayor Oh Se-hoon to enhance urban competitiveness, with various figures including former Prime Minister's Office Coordinator Lee Seok-jun and Professor Lee Soo-jung of Kyonggi University's Department of Criminal Psychology participating.
On the 21st, Lee Chang-geun, spokesperson for Seoul City, told reporters that the 'Seoul Vision 2030 Committee' is completely unrelated to the presidential election, explaining, "As Mayor Oh announced, the committee aims to strengthen urban competitiveness and improve quality of life to create a vision for Seoul."
The committee plans to identify key tasks that Seoul will pursue over the next ten years with the goal of becoming a "global top-tier competitive city" by mid-next month. It will operate divided into six sectoral subcommittees and two special subcommittees, including vision strategy, global urban competitiveness, smart city, and fair and cooperative city.
The spokesperson emphasized, "I have not heard that Chairman Lee Seok-jun will resign, and I do not know what position he might take in the campaign, as nothing has been decided," adding, "The committee is for the vision of Greater Seoul. I hope there will be no misunderstandings."
Regarding the online education platform 'Seoul Learn,' included as a major part of Seoul City's supplementary budget, the spokesperson stated that the primary goal is to bridge educational gaps and restore educational opportunities, countering claims from some quarters that it is "wasting public funds on the private sector."
He explained, "As a three-year project, the biggest goal is to close the educational gap and restore the educational ladder," adding, "In the process of creating the online platform, we cannot neglect vulnerable students, and even before the AI-powered customized platform is completed, we need to prepare excellent lecture videos this year."
He continued, "The goal is similar to the Democratic Party's efforts to eradicate private tutoring, reduce private education expenses, and normalize public education," adding, "It is expected to take about a year to complete the proper construction, starting with vulnerable groups and expanding to all Seoul citizens, with the final goal of launching citywide."
The spokesperson also highlighted the difference from EBS, stating that EBS is a typical platform providing only videos without mentoring, whereas 'Seoul Learn' is a coaching-oriented platform involving frontline teachers.
He said, "Frontline teachers will participate in the short term, and video education specialized companies have also expressed willingness to participate as part of their social contribution," adding, "Some criticize it as giving money to the private sector, but participation will be mainly on a 15% cost-reimbursement basis." Seoul City plans to increase the budget next year and invest 27 billion KRW over three years.
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