Y Education Expo to Be Held Around Yangcheon District Office from May 15 to 17
Theme: "Green Schooling: The Earth Becomes the Textbook"
"The theme of this year's Y Education Expo? It's 'Green Schooling: The Earth Becomes the Textbook.' It's not just a catchy phrase. It reflects the direction education must take in the era of the climate crisis?something we all need to seriously consider."
In an interview with Asia Economy on May 8, Lee Gijae, head of Yangcheon District Office (pictured), said, "The days of sitting in classrooms just reading books are over. The entire planet must become a learning space for children, and nature and the environment should become the textbooks." Now in its third year, the Y Education Expo is a large-scale educational event hosted by Yangcheon District. It will be held from May 15 to 17 around Yangcheon District Office. The expo has established itself as a nationwide event that presents educational visions and innovations.
Lee Gijae, head of Yangcheon District Office, emphasized this year’s Y Education Expo by stating, "The entire planet must become a learning space for children, and nature and the environment should become the textbooks." Provided by Yangcheon District Office.
Lee emphasized that this year's theme is not simply a slogan, but the result of deep reflection on where and what we should be learning in the era of the climate crisis. He said, "In Europe, ecological and environmental education is already being provided from the lower grades of elementary school, but in Korea, there are still many institutional shortcomings. Through this expo, I wanted to convey the message that environmental education should not be confined to specific subjects, but should naturally permeate all educational curricula."
This year's expo site is a microcosm of the 'Earth Textbook.' The number of experience zones combining future technology and environmental education has been greatly increased. In the 'Green Schooling Experience Zone,' participants can directly experience the causes of and responses to the climate crisis. At the 'Mini Ecological Zoo,' children can interact with animals and learn about respect for life, while the 'Digital Dokdo Experience Center' uses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to vividly present the ecology and history of Dokdo. In addition, a variety of programs that transcend generations and spaces will be offered, including a mathematics structure competition, a lifelong learning festival, a kids play zone, an astronomy observation class, and an eco-cinema theater.
The response to the expo has also been enthusiastic. Lee said, "A total of 85,000 people attended up to last year, and this year, the number of website visitors has reached an average of 3,500 per day?about three times last year's figure. More than 8,000 students have registered as school groups, and schools from other regions such as Gochang in North Jeolla, Chilgok in North Gyeongsang, and Cheonan in South Chungcheong have also applied to participate." He added that as other local governments have inquired about benchmarking the event, there is a strong sense of pride that the expo has become not just a Yangcheon event, but a central stage for educational sites and discussions on the future of education nationwide.
The changes brought to the local community by the expo are also evident. Lee said, "Since launching the nation's first education-centered experiential expo in 2023, we have delivered timely messages such as 'Changing education changes the future' and 'Meeting classrooms outside the classroom.'"
In addition to the expo, lifelong learning and public education outside of schools are also being strengthened. The Lifelong Learning Festival is a celebration for everyone from infants to seniors, transforming the area around Yangcheon District Office into a lifelong learning street. There will be exhibitions of works created by residents, 34 hands-on booths on environmental themes, and a wealth of practical programs such as Korean dessert making, calligraphy, caring for companion plants, and basic sewing classes.
Lee said, "By launching the nation's first experiential expo centered on 'education' and reflecting timely messages in its content, we have successfully established it as Korea's leading education expo in just two years. I encourage families to visit the site of the 2025 Y Education Expo Lifelong Learning Festival, which brings together all generations."
The 3rd annual Y Education Expo will be held from the 15th to the 17th of this month around Yangcheon District Office. Photo shows last year's Y Education Expo. Courtesy of Yangcheon District Office.
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