Mayor Park Seungwon of Gwangmyeong: "Community Assetization Is the Solution to Complex Crises"

"Lifelong Learning Forum" Hosted by City and Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Agency
"We Must Expand Lifelong Learning for a Virtuous Cycle of Learning and Local Problem-Solving"

Park Seungwon, mayor of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has proposed 'community assetization' based on lifelong learning as a sustainable growth strategy for the city.

Park Seungwon, mayor of Gwangmyeong, is delivering the keynote speech at the 'Lifelong Learning Forum' held at the Lifelong Learning Center on the 25th. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

In his keynote speech at the 'Lifelong Learning Forum' jointly hosted by the city and the Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Agency at the Lifelong Learning Center auditorium in Haan-dong on the 25th, Mayor Park stated, "We must expand the social role of lifelong learning so that a virtuous cycle can be created in which citizens grow through learning, put their knowledge into practice to solve local issues, and lead change."

He added, "In order to respond to the era of complex crises such as climate, economy, population, aging, and digital transformation, collective intelligence and community-based responses are essential for local communities." He further explained that "community assetization," in which communities formed through learning develop local experiences, relationships, spaces, and organizations into assets, could be a solution.

At the forum, Yang Byungchan, professor at Kongju National University, also emphasized that "the function of lifelong learning should not be limited to individual capacity building but should be expanded to enhance the resilience of local communities and serve as a social asset." Jang Jieun, visiting professor at Sungkyunkwan University, highlighted the importance of practical capacity by presenting strategies for joint assetization based on resident participation and organizational approaches, such as the ABCD method.

During the general discussion at the forum, Lee Soyoun, professor at Sungkonghoe University, served as the moderator and shared strategies and possibilities for regional transformation through learning.