Former Jeonnam Superintendent Kim Dae-jung Delivers Moving Message: "Coexistence Education is the Answer"

Kim Dae-jung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, delivered an inspiring speech to the audience attending the ‘2024 Korea Glocal Future Education Expo.’

At the opening ceremony of the Glocal Future Education Expo held on the 29th at the Yeosu World Expo Center, Superintendent Kim stated, “The Korea Glocal Future Education Expo has opened a historic chapter,” adding, “It has presented a new paradigm of future education led by local regions to the world and fired the starting signal for a major transformation in education.”

On this day, Superintendent Kim was praised for moving the hearts of the audience with his seasoned and sincere remarks.

Former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Kim Dae-jung

Superintendent Kim said, “We are living in an era where, for the first time in human civilization, we worry about the sustainability of the Earth and humanity,” and added, “If things continue as they are, we must provide answers regarding the sustainability of the global environment and ecological preservation.”

He continued, “Korea is facing the crisis of regional extinction due to low birth rates, and Jeonnam is experiencing the greatest threat,” emphasizing, “Overcoming these phenomena that threaten sustainability is a task of our time.”

To solve these problems, Superintendent Kim presented four visions: ▲ coexistence of humans and nature to save the Earth ▲ coexistence of AI and humans in the approaching digital era ▲ local coexistence that revitalizes regions through cooperation between education and local communities ▲ and glocal coexistence that benefits both global and local through their fusion.

He stated, “From a regional perspective, school education should expand its role to enhance the sustainability of local communities,” and added, “Jeonnam’s sustainability is also being sought through symbiotic education based on cooperation within local communities.”

Furthermore, he said, “In the future, the global village will develop into globalization where individuals are connected. What connects all of this is ‘education for coexistence,’” and added, “Many regions and countries attending the expo are also striving to solve local problems and issues related to future education.”

Superintendent Kim emphasized that naming the expo ‘Glocal Future Education’ expresses the will to create a sustainable future together through regional globalization.

He said, “Korea has created equal educational opportunities for everyone regardless of region or social class. Even in Jeonnam, teachers are sent to remote islands with only one student to provide educational opportunities,” adding, “Efforts to live together through education, even under difficult conditions, are the source of coexistence.”

He concluded, “Locals who frequently interact and share joy with people nearby and far away are glocal,” and expressed hope that “this expo will become a venue for a major transformation in glocal future education.”