Mayor Park Hyungdeok: "Expanding Lifelong Learning Opportunities... Leaping Forward as a Lifelong Learning Hub in Northern Gyeonggi"

Dongducheon City Selected as Final Recipient of the 2025 Lifelong Learning Opportunity Special Zone
Laying the Foundation for a Citizen-Centered Lifelong Learning City
Consortium with Pocheon City, Daejin University, and Nonghyup Achieves High Marks
First Implementation in Gyeonggi Province under Ministry of Education Policy
Key Initiatives and Programs to Foster Lifelong Learning and Regional Growth

Dongducheon City, led by Mayor Park Hyungdeok, has been selected as the final recipient of the "2025 Gyeonggi-do Lifelong Learning Opportunity Special Zone" project, laying the foundation for its leap forward as a citizen-centered lifelong learning city.

A view of Dongducheon City Hall. Provided by Dongducheon City

According to Dongducheon City on May 1, the city formed a consortium with Pocheon City, Daejin University, and Nonghyup to participate in the project, which was hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Agency on April 30. The consortium received high marks and was ultimately selected. This project is particularly significant as it is the first of its kind to be implemented in Gyeonggi Province, as part of the Ministry of Education's Lifelong Learning Focused District Policy.

Mayor Park Hyungdeok stated, "We will actively cooperate so that Dongducheon and Pocheon can both grow as citizen-centered lifelong learning cities," adding, "We will continue to expand effective learning opportunities that residents can directly experience."

The total project budget amounts to 120 million won, with Gyeonggi Province providing 100 million won in support, and Dongducheon City and Pocheon City each investing 10 million won to jointly operate the project. The project vision has been set as "Connecting Learning, Fostering Potongpotong Learning Competence, and Growing Together through Lifelong Learning LINK," and will be operated around three core initiatives: ▲Together LINK ▲Connecting LINK ▲Smart LINK.

Noteworthy programs include the "Potong Mongnyang Academy," a training course for companion animal experts; the "Potong Learning Village Tour," a specialized program for learning villages; the "Potong Connection Market," a collaborative project with Nonghyup; and the "Potong Silvernet Digital School," aimed at strengthening digital literacy among the elderly.

Mayor Park Hyungdeok said, "Through this project, we will strengthen the learning infrastructure so that every Dongducheon citizen can continue learning regardless of age," and emphasized, "We will do our utmost to ensure that lifelong learning becomes a driving force for regional development and improved quality of life."

This achievement is evaluated not only as a simple case of inter-local government cooperation, but also as a model demonstrating the potential for Dongducheon and Pocheon to develop into a genuine economic and educational community. Furthermore, as a pilot case that can be expanded throughout the northern region of Gyeonggi Province, it is expected to make a significant contribution to narrowing educational gaps between regions.