Yanggu County to Host 'Yanggu Sustainable Learning City International Conference' on the 24th

Advancing as a Global Learning City
Through Exchange and Cooperation with Latin American Learning Cities

Yanggu County in Gangwon Province will host the '2025 Yanggu Sustainable Learning City International Conference' at the Lifelong Learning Center on September 24. A total of 21 participants, including 2 mayors from the Latin America Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) and 18 other officials, have been invited. In addition, approximately 200 Yanggu County residents and lifelong education stakeholders will join both in person and online.

Yanggu County Sustainable City International Conference Poster. Provided by Yanggu County

This conference builds on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in April, which laid the groundwork for international exchanges with Latin American learning cities in the GNLC. The event aims to foster further exchange to overcome the crisis of population decline and realize a sustainable future.

The core message of the conference is that 'learning is the key to sustainability.' The starting point for addressing environmental, economic, and social issues lies in empowering citizens and fostering a culture of learning within the community. The county plans to create practical case studies with international partners to enhance regional resilience and hope.

Under the theme 'Planting Hope, Strengthening Learning, and Creating a Sustainable Future,' the conference will feature a keynote speech, case presentations, and a joint declaration.

The program will begin with a keynote speech on global trends and future prospects for sustainable learning cities, followed by presentations on Yanggu County's unique K-learning city initiatives and strategic and special cases from Latin American and Mexican learning city alliance members. The event will conclude with the 'Yanggu Joint Declaration for a Green Utopia as a Sustainable Learning City,' sharing a vision for cooperation among learning cities.

Through this international conference, Yanggu County aims to strengthen solidarity among learning cities and, together with its residents, create a sustainable lifelong learning ecosystem. The county also seeks to enhance international partnerships and raise its profile as a global learning city, with the goal of joining UNESCO GNLC.