Yoon Engages in Dialogue with Yurim in Andong... Strengthening Will to Overcome Conflict and Discord

'Wisdom and Lessons from Traditional Cultural Heritage' Thematic Meeting... Emphasizing Seonbi Spirit and Character Education
First Local Visit During President-Elect Period... At the Time, "Doing Our Best to Foster Pride in Culture and History"

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Byeongsan Seowon in Andong on the 27th and engaged in a dialogue with local Confucian scholars. Andong was the first regional visit during President Yoon’s transition period, where he promised the Confucian scholars, "In governing the country, I will do my utmost to ensure that all our people correctly understand and properly learn our nation's history so that they can take pride in our culture and history."

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon held a meeting with Confucian scholars at Byeongsan Seowon located in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, discussing ways to realize a local autonomy era and resolve social conflicts.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the Confucian Scholars' Meeting held at Byeongsan Seowon in Andong, Gyeongbuk, on the afternoon of the 27th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

During the meeting themed "Wisdom and Lessons Found in Traditional Cultural Heritage," President Yoon and the Confucian scholars discussed embodying the spirit of the Toegye Seowon movement to realize the local autonomy era, the scholar’s spirit to overcome conflicts and antagonism, and the need to expand character education for the happiness of the people, reaffirming their commitment to regional development and the promotion of traditional culture.

Earlier, after winning last year’s presidential election, President Yoon visited Andong as his first regional tour as president-elect. He visited the Gyeongsangbuk-do Confucian Culture Center and said, "Last autumn, I met with senior Confucian scholars in Andong and received much encouragement and support. With that strength, I overcame difficult obstacles and have come to this position today."

He bowed and greeted the Confucian scholars respectfully. President Yoon emphasized his connection to Andong and Nonsan, Nonsan-si, Chungnam, specifically Noseong-myeon, the hometown of his paternal family, the Pyeongpa Yoon clan, and his late father, the late Professor Yoon Ki-jung, an honorary professor at Yonsei University. He particularly stressed the importance of history. President Yoon pointed out, "Our society does not show interest in our history, ancestors, and roots, and schools do not teach it properly. Young people growing up do not fully understand their identity, making it difficult to maintain pride and self-esteem, which creates various difficulties in our society." He added, "As president, in governing the country, I will do my utmost to ensure that all our people correctly understand and properly learn our nation's history so that they can take pride in our culture and history, and that this can serve as the foundation for national development."