Jeonnam Province to Nurture 10,000 Local Talents Annually

Promotion of 23 Detailed Projects for the "Talent Development Expressway"

Jeollanam-do Governor Youngrok Kim is performing with participants at the '2024 Jeollanam-do Talent Festival' held on the 12th at the Wangin Room of the provincial government office. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeollanam-do will launch the ‘Jeollanam-do Talent Development Expressway’ project in earnest to foster core talent that will drive regional development, with plans to discover and nurture around 10,000 local talents annually.

The Jeollanam-do Talent Development Expressway is the second phase of the ‘New Millennium Talent Development Project’ implemented since 2019. This project aims to identify local talents with potential in various fields, provide them with opportunities to develop their abilities, and support their growth and settlement within the region.

Recruitment will begin in mid-month, and the plan is to establish a solid talent development expressway so that local talents can soar toward their dreams throughout their entire life cycle, from childhood to adulthood.

Divided by life stage into budding talents, growing talents, global talents, and lifelong talents, the project consists of a total of 23 programs, including new initiatives such as the Infinite Challenge Venture Startup Expedition for university students, the Provincial Resident Venture Startup Intern School, the Literature Academy, Island Dream Camp, and the On-site Jeollanam-do Lifelong Learning program.

By project, the ‘Gifted Nurturing’ program selects a total of 248 elementary and middle school students?147 in science and 101 in the arts?to provide systematic talent development opportunities at specialized institutions during weekends and vacations. Outstanding graduates are then chosen for the Top Talent, Overseas Study, Employment/Settlement, and Lifelong Talent programs, forming a core regional talent development pathway.

The ‘Island Dream Camp’ project visits island regions such as Mokpo, Yeosu, Gwangyang, Goheung, Wando, Jindo, and Sinan, where diverse learning opportunities are limited due to geography, to provide elementary and middle school students with advanced education in coding, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and more.

The ‘Global Cultural Experience Camp’ project selects about 100 second-year middle school students through document screening, an English written test, and an English interview. During a four-week winter break program, students participate in regular classes at local schools in the UK, stay with host families, and go on educational field trips, gaining exposure to advanced overseas education and culture.

The ‘Jeollanam-do Top Talent’ project, which boasts the highest satisfaction among residents, selects talents from nine fields?humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, meister, Korean traditional music and music, dance/acting/film, classical music, fine arts, and sports?among middle, high school, and university students. It provides annual talent development grants of 3 million to 6 million KRW, with this year’s selection expanding from 200 to 250 participants.

The ‘Research Talent Capacity Building’ project selects about 30 graduate students and offers them opportunities to conduct joint research with research institutions to enhance their research capabilities. In addition to future industries and current issues in the region, this year the ‘food sector’ has been newly included to foster the development of Jeollanam-do’s culinary industry.

The ‘Overseas Student Selection’ project selects five local talents who have excelled in their fields despite challenging circumstances, providing them with 100 million KRW each in overseas study expenses to acquire specialized knowledge and doctoral degrees abroad.

The ‘On-site Jeollanam-do Lifelong Learning’ program allows any resident to form a team of around 10 people and request courses, with lifelong education programs delivered directly to townships and neighborhoods. For vocational education, opportunities for re-employment, entrepreneurship, and certification are provided in cooperation with universities, professional associations, and institutions. For daily life education, practical learning in health, hobbies, and humanities is offered.

In addition, the Jeollanam-do Talent Development Expressway project, which consists of 23 programs for a wide range of fields and age groups from elementary students to the general public, will begin recruiting for the Science Gifted Nurturing, Arts Gifted Nurturing, Top Talent, and Infinite Challenge Venture Startup Expedition programs from mid-March, with recruitment for each project continuing throughout the year.

Kang Jongcheol, Director of Talent Development and Education at Jeollanam-do, said, “We will build a solid talent development expressway so that local talents can freely pursue their dreams and hopes.”