Financial Services Commission Holds Briefing Session Ahead of New High School 'Finance Subject' Introduction Next Year

On the afternoon of the 19th, the Financial Services Commission held an "Information Session to Encourage the Selection of Financial Subjects and Support Educational Sites" at the Bankers' Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. About 130 teachers who teach social studies from Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, and Jeju attended the session.

Kim So-young, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, stated, "Starting next year, the newly established subject 'Finance and Economic Life' will help prevent illegal financial activities such as illegal loans and illegal debt collection caused by youth illegal gambling, and foster proper financial values." She added, "For the financial subject to be successfully established, it must be chosen by students and educational sites through engaging education centered on real-life experiences."

Accordingly, financial institutions such as banks, financial public enterprises, and related organizations will provide necessary support for educational sites, including teaching tools and materials, development of teaching models, and training of specialized financial subject instructors. For example, the insurance sector will guide students on how insurance subscriptions can prevent economic losses through a board game called 'Insurance, Please.' The game simulates preventing accidents by moving pieces with appropriate insurance according to life cycles. The Korea Federation of Banks will support the provision and utilization of experiential financial education content through games, and the Korea Financial Investment Association will support educational content for high school students, such as online simulated investment games.

Additionally, Vice Chairman Kim emphasized, "Not only the financial subject but also the integration of finance with other essential subjects should naturally cultivate financial capabilities from elementary education." She explained that finance can be integrated into English classes through reading passages related to stock investment or vocabulary related to account opening, and into math classes through concepts such as interest rates, loan repayment, and investment returns.

The Financial Services Commission plans to continue listening to the opinions of educational site stakeholders through information sessions and field visits with financial education-related organizations to support the activation of financial education in school curricula.