[Interview] Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, "Promoting the Attraction of Seoul Science Museum and Seoul Imagination Land"

Yeongdeungpo District Signs MOU with Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon on February 24 to Foster Creative Convergence Talent for Establishing a ‘Special Science Education Zone’... ‘Yeongdeungpo Future Education Foundation,’ the Education Policy Control Tower, Scheduled to Launch in the Second Half of the Year

"The year 2023 will be the inaugural year for Yeongdeungpo District to transform into a special science education zone."

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, expressed his aspirations for nurturing scientific talent. Mayor Choi emphasized the importance of cultivating future scientific talent with digital capabilities, stating, "Our country succeeded in industrialization and grew into an economic powerhouse by investing in people. The level of science and technology directly reflects a nation's competitiveness."

He continued, "Yeongdeungpo District, which led the Miracle on the Han River as a key player in manufacturing during the industrialization era, must attract cutting-edge knowledge industry centers and major corporate R&D centers on former factory sites to make another leap forward in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By strengthening science education to prevent the outflow of excellent students to other school districts and nurturing future talent to support the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we aim to restore Yeongdeungpo’s former prestige."

Mayor Choi particularly stressed the importance of "natural exposure" and "fun" in science from an early age. "Studying math and science solely for entrance exams can be difficult," he said. "It is essential to first allow children to experience fun and interest through play and games from an early age."

Steps to realize this vision have also begun in earnest. On January 24, an MOU was signed with Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon to foster creative convergence talent. The district and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education agreed to collaborate in various areas, including establishing and activating the Yeongdeungpo Special Science Education Zone, supporting the establishment and operation of the Future Education Foundation, hosting and promoting scientific festivals and academic exhibitions, and developing and applying science education programs.

Additionally, the establishment of the ‘Yeongdeungpo Future Education Foundation,’ a core project for advancing the special science education zone, and the attraction of the Seoul Metropolitan Science Museum in the southwestern area and the Seoul Sangsangnara early childhood science playground are being actively pursued.

The Yeongdeungpo Future Education Foundation will be a nonprofit foundation serving as a new type of policy implementation organization acting as the control tower for education policy. It will expand and reorganize the existing scholarship foundation to cover not only scholarship projects but also the discovery and planning of education policies, strategies for securing national and city funding, building cooperative systems among education stakeholders, and projects across all areas of education in Yeongdeungpo District, including creative, scientific, character education, and lifelong learning.

The district recently completed related service contracts and plans to launch the Future Education Foundation in the second half of the year through amendments to its articles of incorporation, ordinance revisions, and preparation of regulations.

Efforts are also accelerating to attract the southwestern Seoul Metropolitan Science Museum and the Seoul Sangsangnara early childhood science playground. Mayor Choi said, "To understand a country’s past, you visit a museum; to understand its future, you visit a science museum. A science museum is essential as a space where youth can develop interest and curiosity in science and technology and imagine the future." He added, "Southwestern Seoul lacks scientific cultural infrastructure, the young population is increasing due to improved living conditions from new town projects, and factories scattered in semi-industrial areas are transforming into knowledge industry centers. Yeongdeungpo District is the optimal location for building a science museum."

As a candidate site for the science museum, the district proposed the site of the Nambu Road Office in Daerim-dong. After relocating the Nambu Road Office, a science museum with a total floor area of approximately 7,500㎡ will be established to provide AI, IT, robotics, big data, metaverse, AR/VR experience-linked education, and more.

Seoul Sangsangnara is an experiential cultural facility where children can experience and learn about science, art, and nature through play. Seoul City operates such facilities by region, and efforts are underway to attract the southwestern Seoul Sangsangnara to public parking lot sites in Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo District. Notably, the southwestern Seoul Sangsangnara is proposed to be developed as a children’s cultural and play facility specialized in ‘science,’ enabling children to naturally become familiar with science from an early age.

Support will also be provided for operating experiential science curricula, offering opportunities to participate in exhibitions, experiences, and educational programs. Furthermore, the district plans to expand the base of science and technology by strengthening science education not only for elementary and middle school students but also for adults.

Mayor Choi Ho-kwon stated, "Rather than focusing on short-term results, having a vision for the future and preparing accordingly is what a leader must do. We will do our utmost to ensure that Yeongdeungpo District firmly establishes itself as a ‘Special Science Education Zone.’"