Gyeongnam Province to Support High School Students' Career Exploration ... Launches Career Mentoring Program

Masan Girls' High School Begins with 3.15 Uprising Historical Exploration

Gyeongsangnam-do has launched a career mentoring program to help high school students in the province make informed career choices.

The province announced that it will provide career counseling on 18 topics tailored to the needs of seven schools, including Changwon Masan Girls' High School, Changwon Yongho High School, Muhak Girls' High School, Jinju High School, Jinju Dongmyeong High School, Gimhae Jangyu High School, and Yangsan Nambu High School.

This initiative reflects a proposal made by a high school student who attended the provincial assembly in February, suggesting a mentoring system where university professors and retired teachers support students struggling with career and job choices through in-depth exploration activities related to academic subjects.

To this end, the province has prepared the pilot project by gathering sufficient input from various groups, including school teachers, university professors, and retired educators.

Students from Masan Girls' High School in Changwon, Gyeongnam, are taking a commemorative photo in front of the statue of martyr Kim Juyeol at Masan Haeyang Nuri Park. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

In the career mentoring program, numerous professors from relevant departments and experienced retired teachers participate as mentors, providing customized career activities such as in-depth exploration and special lectures to high school students who face difficulties obtaining specific information about academic majors and career options.

This initiative is also linked with the middle-aged social contribution project, creating a virtuous cycle job creation model in which retirees aged 50 to 70 contribute to society by using their knowledge and experience in the nonprofit sector while also seeking new job opportunities.

At Masan Girls' High School, the first school to participate in the mentoring program, a field trip focused on exploring the history of the 3.15 Uprising was held on the 18th.

This event was organized as part of a project to build a commemorative monument for the 3.15 Uprising within the year, aiming to reflect on the spirit and significance of the uprising and to deepen understanding of local cultural heritage and characteristics before the monument is erected.

On this day, students visited the National 3.15 Democratic Cemetery and the memorial site for martyr Kim Juyeol in Masan Marine Nuri Park.

Students of Masan Girls' High School in Changwon, Gyeongnam, are listening to an explanation in front of the memorial tomb of martyr Kim Juyeol within the National 3.15 Democracy Cemetery. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

The professor from Gyeongnam University who led the in-depth topic said, "The students participated sincerely from beginning to end and showed a much higher level of enthusiasm than I expected. I look forward to seeing great works created by the students' passion and interest."

The career guidance teacher at Masan Girls' High School said, "It is very rare for a professor from a related department to directly guide students in in-depth exploration activities. This career mentoring program has been very helpful not only to the students but also to the teachers involved."

Kim Yeojeong, the student who proposed the policy and participated in the career mentoring, said, "I am happy to see my imagination become reality, and I sincerely thank the Gyeongsangnam-do officials who listened to even the smallest voices."

She added, "Through this career guidance, I learned much more about my field of interest, and I will work even harder to achieve my dreams. If given the opportunity, I would like to continue participating in the province's policy initiatives."

Yoon Inguk, Director of Education and Youth at the provincial government, said, "I hope this will be a valuable time for students in Gyeongsangnam-do to realize their dreams and grow into future talents. We will continue to expand the career mentoring program and provide full support so that students in the province can further clarify their futures."

Starting in the second half of this year, Gyeongsangnam-do plans to gradually expand career mentoring by conducting school-specific needs assessments in connection with the Education Development Special Zone and RISE projects, and to systematically promote career guidance by creating a list of mentoring support personnel among retired teachers.