[Exclusive] Ministers Taking on 'Daily Neulbom Instructor' Role "Talent Donation"

Minister of Land, Park Sang-woo, Visits Elementary School on 22nd
Ministers and Vice Ministers from Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality, and Others to Join
Promotion Led by President Yoon and Social Leaders

To promote the expansion of Neulbom School, ministers from all government departments will serve as 'one-day instructors' at elementary schools nationwide. As the policy is rapidly implemented from the new semester, concerns have been raised about a shortage of Neulbom instructors, prompting a campaign to encourage nationwide expansion.

According to the Ministry of Education and related departments on the 20th, starting this week, ministers from each department plan to serve as one-day Neulbom instructors at elementary schools across the country. The ministers will directly participate in Neulbom School education as a form of 'talent donation.'

A Ministry of Education official said, "Basically, there is a great need for high-quality programs at Neulbom School," adding, "Since cabinet members are social leaders, the purpose is to lead by example and contribute their talents as one-day instructors."

Each department is reportedly coordinating schedules and locations with elementary schools and local education offices nationwide. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the same day, Minister Park Sang-woo will visit an elementary school in Seoul on the 22nd to serve as a one-day Neulbom instructor. Minister Park Sung-jae of the Ministry of Justice also plans to visit a Seoul elementary school on the 3rd of next month. Ministers (and vice ministers) from other departments, including the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, are also arranging their schedules and locations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Neulbom School is a comprehensive educational program conducted at schools after regular classes. The government plans to start with first graders at over 2,000 elementary schools in the first semester this year and gradually expand the program. However, as the policy implementation was rapidly pushed close to the new semester, issues of insufficient personnel and facilities at schools have been pointed out.

In particular, due to a shortage of Neulbom instructors, existing teachers have been deployed, causing disruptions in lesson preparation. Although the basic purpose is to provide regionally tailored programs for students, delivering high-quality programs requires additional human resources beyond the existing teachers.

In response, President Yoon Seok-yeol has been actively promoting the expansion of Neulbom School, managing related schedules weekly over the past three weeks. On the 27th of last month, he held a Central-Local Cooperation Meeting with provincial governors and education superintendents to check the preparation status of Neulbom School by region, and on the 14th, he visited an elementary school in Jeonnam to observe the Neulbom School program.

It is reported that President Yoon plans to serve as a one-day Neulbom instructor himself soon. Previously, he instructed, "The Ministry of Education should create a standard program and establish a platform that connects instructors and talent donors with schools."

Education superintendents in each city and province are also participating in talent donation. Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, visited Gu-pyeong Elementary School in Saha-gu, Busan, yesterday to conduct a Neulbom School class.