"It Was So Fun and Rewarding to Experience Legislative Activities"... Gumi Hyunggok Elementary Students Become Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Members for a Day

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Council held the 104th "Youth Assembly Classroom" on May 23, 2025, in the main assembly hall, with the participation of 28 students from Gumi Hyunggok Elementary School.

On this day, third-grade students became provincial council members for a day, taking on the roles of chairperson and council members. They experienced the entire legislative process, including the opening ceremony, council member oath, three-minute free speech, debates for and against agenda items, and electronic voting, all conducted in the same manner as actual council proceedings.

Students from Gumi Hyunggok Elementary School are taking a commemorative photo while participating in the "Youth Assembly Classroom," where they experience legislative activities at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council.

During the three-minute free speech session, the students presented two topics: respecting students' freedom and human rights, and improving the educational environment at school. They also handled a total of four agenda items, including an ordinance to extend elementary school start times and a motion to require the attendance of relevant public officials.

Kim Yonghyun, a member of the People Power Party representing Gumi, who attended the event, encouraged the students by saying, "I am truly proud to see you directly experiencing how the council operates and learning the values of democracy here today."

Students who participated in the Youth Assembly Classroom shared their impressions, saying, "It was a very fun and rewarding experience to see and directly participate in what the provincial council does for the development of the local community."

Meanwhile, the Youth Assembly Classroom is an educational program that has been operated since 2014, allowing elementary, middle, and high school students in the Gyeongbuk region to visit the provincial council, take on the roles of council members for a day, and experience actual legislative activities and democratic decision-making processes. Through this, students gain an understanding of the functions and roles of local councils, and the program has received positive feedback from participants.