[Opinion] The Question Raised by the Cheongju Tragedy... Now, 'Character Education' Is the Answer

A Tragedy That Shocked the Nation:
Now Is the Time to Strengthen Character Education

Choi Jeonguk Wando County Councilor

The recent tragic incident at a high school in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, has sent a profound shockwave throughout our entire society, far beyond being a mere local event.

We can no longer dismiss such incidents as merely individual aberrations. They are clear social signals, indicating that it is urgently necessary to substantially expand character education and shift our policy approach. Today, we live in an era where Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are rapidly transforming our way of life. While these technological advancements have undoubtedly brought us many conveniences and opportunities, they have also deepened individualism and materialism, weakened our sense of community, and further highlighted the phenomenon of human alienation.

An even more serious problem is that, amid these trends, adolescents?who will be the main actors of the future society?are continuously exposed to risks such as school violence, school maladjustment, and even rising suicide rates. This strongly suggests that the importance of character education, which preserves the intrinsic value of humanity, is greater than ever before.

The Character Education Promotion Act, which has been in effect since September 2020, defines character education as a process of cultivating core values and virtues related to being a good person, such as courtesy, filial piety, honesty, responsibility, respect, consideration, communication, and cooperation. However, even five years after the law came into force, character education is still treated as a supplementary subject in public education, without being systematically established. There is also a lack of effective linkage between families, schools, and local communities. Above all, many high schools focus solely on early graduation and improving admission rates to prestigious universities under the pretext of "nurturing talent," and achievement-oriented education is often regarded as the entirety of education. Of course, academic achievement is one important educational goal.

However, we must not forget that the ultimate purpose of education is not merely the accumulation of knowledge, but to nurture healthy members of society with sound character. Now, local communities must take the lead. We need to find a balance between entrance exam-oriented education and character education, with differentiated perspectives and approaches from other local governments, and it is time to cultivate true talent in the genuine sense. Character is not something that can be developed overnight.

In this regard, I propose the following changes in educational policy.

First, local governments, offices of education, and social organizations must actively cooperate to establish an educational ecosystem in which character education is embedded throughout schools, families, and the broader community. Character education is not the responsibility of any single institution.

Second, offices of education should develop and disseminate effective educational programs based on the Character Education Promotion Act, and strengthen support so that these programs can function effectively in schools.

Third, the budget for character education should be significantly increased, and through the training and placement of professional personnel, character education must be provided in a continuous and systematic manner, rather than as a one-off event. To achieve this, teacher training, parent education, and the establishment of community cooperation systems should be pursued in parallel.

To ensure that the tragedy in Cheongju is never repeated, it is time for all of us to recognize the importance of character education and move toward practical change. The goal of education is not just to impart knowledge, but to nurture people. Fostering healthy citizens is the most certain legacy we can leave to future generations.