Suncheon-si, Final Preparations Underway for the 7th Korea Lifelong Learning Expo

The Process Where Citizens Directly Participate and Create Stands Out

Heo Seok, the mayor of Suncheon, is promoting the Lifelong Education Expo by reenacting a scene from the recently popular Squid Game. (Photo by Suncheon City Education)

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 27th that it will hold the 7th Korea Lifelong Learning Expo for four days from the 5th to the 8th of next month, together with the Ministry of Education, Jeollanam-do, Jeollanam-do Office of Education, and the National Institute for Lifelong Education.

This Korea Lifelong Learning Expo will be held under the theme "Lifelong Learning, Finding the Future of My Life," with exhibitions and experiences from lifelong learning cities and institutions nationwide taking place at the Suncheon Bay Ecological and Cultural Education Center.

In addition to the main exhibition hall focused on displays, the city is preparing an expanded expo with various side events where visitors can feel the atmosphere of Suncheon at locations such as Suncheonman National Garden, Suncheonman Wetland, Culture Street, and the site of Bueopseong Fortress.

In particular, this expo highlights citizen participation in all processes.

Events created and participated in directly by citizens are being actively recruited even before the expo, including the "Modu愛 Fashion Show," where citizens serve as models and showcase walking; the "Suncheon Craft" contest, building Suncheon landmarks within a game; and the "Brain Light Filling" competition, a daydreaming contest.

During the promotional process, rather than one-way promotion, experiential promotions such as playing ddakji (Korean paper tile game) and rock-paper-scissors with characters from the Squid Game have been conducted, receiving great responses.

Also, citizen volunteers have been recruited, and their help and participation are expected in the operation aspects as well.

A city official said, "We believe the successful hosting of the expo depends on broad citizen participation," and expressed expectations, saying, "Seeing the enthusiastic response from citizens during the preparation process, we are confident in the success of the expo."