Wonju City Holds Final Report Meeting on Economic Education City Plan
Active Discussions Among Experts, Educators, and Industry Stakeholders with Participation of Over 150 Citizens
On December 16, Wonju City in Gangwon Province held the final report meeting and citizen forum for the "Basic Plan Establishment Study for Creating an Economic Education City in Wonju" at Hotel Inter-Burgo Wonju. During the event, the city discussed with citizens the implementation direction for the Wonju-style economic education city, which aims to link education and industry.
Wonju City held the final report meeting and citizen forum for the "Basic Plan Establishment Study for Creating an Economic Education City in Wonju" on the 16th at Hotel Inter-Burgo Wonju. Provided by Wonju City
Approximately 150 citizens-including parents, students, university representatives, and industry stakeholders-attended the forum, which was conducted with great interest and success. The forum went beyond simply explaining the plan; it operated as a participatory forum that concretized policy implementation tasks through expert discussions and citizen input.
Economic Education City: Strategies to Bridge the Gap Between Education and Industry
Regarding strategies for the economic education city, experts shared concerns about the "mismatch" between curricula and the realities of the industrial field. They evaluated Wonju City's initiative as meaningful, highlighting its attempt to more closely connect education and industry.
Additionally, companies emphasized that core competencies such as character, attitude, and problem-solving skills are becoming increasingly important qualities in talent. They also suggested that elementary, middle, high school, and university education should be interconnected according to the roles of each stage.
In terms of cooperation among local governments, universities, and companies, establishing governance that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of each party was identified as a key task. Experts stressed that collaboration will yield real results-not just remain formal-when local governments focus on coordination and support, universities and schools on curriculum and talent development, and companies on providing practical experience and specifying workforce needs.
Diverse Topics Discussed: Detailing Tasks for the Wonju-Style Economic Education City
The forum also broadly discussed various topics necessary for creating a Wonju-style economic education city, including: redefining the role of an education-focused city centered on talent development; securing unique competitiveness for Wonju by linking future industries with international education; and the need to design settlement conditions and policies that encourage talent to remain in the region.
Both citizens and experts agreed that creating an environment where talent can settle in the region is just as important as nurturing talent. They suggested that, rather than short-term support, a long-term settlement strategy is needed-one that includes housing, transportation, education, and living conditions.
Wonju City held the final report meeting and citizen forum for the "Basic Plan Establishment Study for Creating an Economic Education City in Wonju" on the 16th at Hotel Inter-Burgo Wonju. Provided by Wonju City
In particular, experts concluded that Wonju City's economic education city strategy is a pioneering initiative rarely seen nationwide, as it integrates education, industry, and settlement policies into a single comprehensive strategy.
One expert commented, "An economic education city is not simply an education policy, but a long-term strategy that designs local industries and talent together. The direction presented by Wonju City is a highly advanced approach at the local government level."
Based on the discussions from this citizen forum, Wonju City plans to further detail the core implementation tasks for the economic education city, including: developing an education city vision that defines the ideal type of talent; establishing strategies to link regionally specialized industries with international education; and designing policy packages to attract and retain talent in the region.
Won Kangsu, Mayor of Wonju City, stated, "This citizen forum was not just a venue to explain policy, but a meaningful opportunity for experts and citizens to jointly organize implementation tasks. We will gradually realize the Wonju-style economic education city model, where education is connected to industry and talent settles in the region."
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