“To Foster Mature Civic Awareness” … Ulsan Office of Education Holds ‘Student Empathy Talk’ to Address Local Community Issues

Ulsan Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] On the 15th, the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education held the 'This Year's Democratic Citizenship Education Empathy Talk' for students, teachers, and citizens through YouTube live streaming and on-site participation in the Oesol Meeting Room of the Education Office.

The empathy talk, held under the theme "Youth Population Movement and Change, and Our Tasks," was organized to discuss solutions to local community issues with experts, share opinions, and cultivate mature civic awareness.

The empathy talk, which considered the recent status of youth population changes in the Ulsan area and shared students' and experts' opinions on solutions and directions, began with a presentation by Lim Jin-hyeok, director of the Ulsan Research Institute, titled "Youth Population Movement and Change in Ulsan, and the Future."

Following the empathy talk, students Lee Ji-hyun and Lee Ah-hyung presented on "Youth Perspectives on Attracting Population to the Ulsan Area." The presentation was based on the results of the "2022 Ulsan Student Grand Debate Festival" held in May.

After the student presentations, expert researchers continued with presentations such as Researcher Lee Yoon-hyung's "Ulsan, a City of Opportunity and Hope" and Researcher Moon Sang-sik's "Life and Work of Youth Preparing for the Future."

There was also a Q&A session and mutual discussion between real-time YouTube participants and on-site teachers regarding the talk topics.

The Education Office created a comfortable and free atmosphere for the empathy talk with the hosting of MBC announcer Kim Yeon-kyung and a performance by the 'Happy String' guitar club teacher band.

The Ulsan Office of Education's Democratic Citizenship Education Department supports the creation of a student debate culture so that students can flexibly respond to a changing society and develop communication skills through dialogue and empathy, by organizing events such as the "Ulsan Student Grand Debate Festival," "Student Facilitator Training," and "Activation of Student Autonomous Activities."

An official from the city education office said, "We hope that 'This Year's Democratic Citizenship Education Empathy Talk,' where students share diverse opinions with experts to solve local issues, will serve as an opportunity to cultivate mature civic awareness, including social empathy and democratic communication skills."