"Student-Established Assembly"... 14th Gwangju High School Assembly Opens

First Step of the General Assembly with 80 Student Representatives

Gwangju Office of Education held the '2025 Opening Ceremony and the 1st Regular Meeting' on the 16th at the Gwangju City Council plenary session hall. Photo by Gwangju Office of Education

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education announced that the 14th Gwangju High School Student Assembly was inaugurated at the main chamber of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council on the 16th. This year, 80 student representatives are participating in the High School Assembly.

At the '2025 Inauguration Ceremony and the 1st Regular Session' held that day, two agendas submitted in advance to the Democratic Human Rights Education Center were discussed. Regarding the agenda of 'Promoting Inter-School Exchange,' the joint sports festival between Gwangdeok High School and Inseong High School was shared as an example, and other suggestions such as joint student forums, collaborative Gwangju Student Talent Festival, and regular debates through school partnerships were proposed.

For the other agenda, 'Establishing a Support System for Adolescent Mental Health,' students themselves sought preventive measures for mental health issues such as academic stress, pressure over grades, and depression. The High School Assembly decided to promote programs through school student council SNS accounts and implement the 'Save My Mind' challenge.

The 14th High School Assembly has set 'Vision of Gwangju, Pride of Gwangju' as its slogan and plans to hold a total of four regular sessions this year. In addition, regular meetings with the superintendent, autonomy capacity-building camps, and exchange activities with student assemblies from other cities and provinces such as Busan and Jeonbuk are also planned.

Choi Jangwoo, chairperson of the High School Assembly (3rd year at Gwangju Seoseok High School), said, "We are expanding the scope of the High School Assembly by participating in events such as the reading of the declaration at the May 18 Gwangju Uprising Memorial Committee inauguration ceremony and the March 15 Uprising Memorial Ceremony," and added, "We will create an assembly where more students can participate and take action."

Lee Jeongseon, superintendent of Gwangju, said, "The Constitutional Court's decision has reminded us once again of the value of parliamentary democracy," and added, "We will provide full support so that the High School Assembly can practice democracy in daily life and continue to grow."