From Fetuses to Seniors, Yeongdeungpo Visits Science Museums... Mayor Choi Hogwon's Genuine Commitment to Science

Establishment of Yeongdeungpo District Future Education Foundation in 2024,
Accelerating the Development of Future Science Talent
Science Museum Tours Offered from Expectant Mothers to Seniors... Making Science a Part of Daily Life for Residents
Diverse Programs Including Overseas Advanced Science Culture Exploration and Science Festivals

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, standing in front of the National Gwacheon Science Museum

"One genius can feed 100,000 people."

This is a famous remark by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kunhee, emphasizing the importance of nurturing scientific talent.

As AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek rapidly transform daily life and the entire industrial landscape, developing scientific talent has become a necessity, not a choice. Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul has positioned itself at the center of this movement. Leading the way is Choi Hogwon, the mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, who is deeply committed to science.

The background to Mayor Choi's exceptional passion for science education can be found in his career. After passing the 34th Public Administration Examination, he began his public service career at Seoul Metropolitan Government, later serving as a senior official at the Blue House and the former National Science and Technology Commission, Consul General in India?an IT powerhouse?and Director of Exhibition and Research at the National Gwacheon Science Museum. Through these experiences, he learned firsthand that the future is determined by science education.

In 2023, while attending CES, the world's largest IT expo, he visited the headquarters of OpenAI, the American company behind ChatGPT. He noted, "Among the roughly 800 employees, most were from India, China, and the United States, with only a handful of Koreans." This experience prompted him to decide, "For the sake of national competitiveness, we must establish an educational foundation as soon as possible."

Accordingly, in January 2024, Yeongdeungpo District became the only one among Seoul’s 25 districts to launch the 'Yeongdeungpo District Future Education Foundation' with the goal of nurturing scientific talent. Prior to this, in 2023, the district signed a 'Special Science Education District' agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, completed the incorporation process, and enacted relevant ordinances to lay the groundwork.

Last year, the district provided all elementary and middle school students in the area with a 'Science Culture Voucher,' allowing them to visit national and public science museums, including the National Gwacheon Science Museum, free of charge. Students were able to step outside the classroom, experience science firsthand, and develop imagination and creativity.

The science museum experience was not limited to students. More than 1,000 people?including adult students from Neulpureum School, local community leaders, residents' association members, and senior citizens?also visited science museums. The aim was to make science a part of daily life, ensuring that all residents could access and enjoy science easily and enjoyably.

This year, the district has taken a step further by planning, for the first time, a 'Science Museum Prenatal Education Tour' for expectant mothers. Scheduled for May 28 at the National Gwacheon Science Museum, the program will use generative AI to create personalized picture books and offer a stargazing experience in the planetarium. The program is designed not only to support fetal emotional development but also to help expectant parents naturally develop an interest in science.

Outstanding Yeongdeungpo middle school students visit Taiwan’s TSMC Innovation Museum

Yeongdeungpo District also operates an overseas advanced science culture exploration program for outstanding middle school students in the area. Last year, students visited the Tsukuba Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the TSMC Innovation Museum in Taiwan. This year, visits to the same institutions are planned for July and November. Around 30 students, including those from underprivileged backgrounds, are selected to ensure fairness of opportunity.

In addition, the district runs a variety of programs, including AI career camps, domestic science facility tours, and mobile science principle experience classes. It also plans to host the 'Yeongdeungpo District Science Festival,' which families can enjoy together.

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, said, "In this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, anyone with a brilliant idea can launch a business on the global stage. I will do my utmost to ensure that students in Yeongdeungpo can freely pursue their dreams and talents as leaders on the world stage."