Usan Middle and Donga Girls' Middle School Students Hold "Mock Assembly" at Gwangju City Council

Enactment of Ordinances for AI-Based Education and Promotion of Student Self-Governance

Gwangju City Council held the "Gwangju City Council Student Mock Assembly" over two days, on the 26th and 27th, at the council's main chamber, with students from Usan Middle School and Donga Girls' Middle School participating. Provided by Gwangju City Council

The Gwangju City Council (Chairperson Shin Sujeong) held the "Gwangju City Council Student Mock Assembly" over two days, on the 26th and 27th, at the council's main chamber, with students from Usan Middle School and Donga Girls' Middle School participating.

Approximately 40 students from each school took part in this student mock assembly. Council members Jeong Daeun and Lim Miran, who represent the districts where the schools are located, welcomed the students' visit to the city council and offered words of encouragement and support. The session provided an opportunity for students to directly experience local legislative activities, including the review and resolution of ordinance bills and two-minute free speech sessions.

Usan Middle School students delivered two-minute speeches on the topics of "Safety on the Way to School" and "Youth Participation in Policy with AI." Donga Girls' Middle School students addressed the "Risks of Microplastics and Efforts to Reduce Them" and the "Need for Change in Social Awareness of Sex Crimes" during their two-minute free speech time.

Additionally, each school introduced a proposed ordinance: Usan Middle School presented an "Ordinance for Education Utilizing AI," while Donga Girls' Middle School proposed a "Practical Ordinance for Activating Student Self-Governance at Donga Girls' Middle School." After explanations of the proposals, a Q&A session, and debates for and against, electronic voting was conducted to reach a decision.

Park Hayoon and Seo Minju, the students who served as chairpersons, shared their thoughts, saying, "By taking on the role of chairperson and leading the meeting at this mock assembly, we had a meaningful experience where we could directly learn the importance of democratic communication and responsibility."

Meanwhile, since 2005, the Gwangju City Council has been organizing the student mock assembly by receiving school recommendations from the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education. To date, a total of 85 sessions have been held, with approximately 8,340 students participating. At the end of this year, the council also plans to award outstanding experience essays written by students who participated in the mock assembly.