Pohang City, Where Learning Becomes a Way of Life... Shaping the Future Through Lifelong Learning

Learning Across Generations: Inclusive Lifelong Education for All Citizens
Music Culture, Libraries, and Landmark Art Museum: Building a Global Learning City

The massive flames that once melted steel are now being transformed into the passion for learning among the citizens of Pohang.

Pohang City achieved top results in the field of lifelong learning last year, including winning the grand prize in the Gyeongbuk Province Lifelong Education Policy Evaluation, receiving the National Library Director's Award, and having three libraries selected as 'Excellent Libraries' in the Gyeongbuk Public Library Operation Evaluation. Building on these achievements, the city is making every effort this year to further solidify its status as a leading learning city in South Korea.

Since being designated as a lifelong learning city by the Ministry of Education in 2012, the city has consistently operated well-structured programs. In particular, last year, Pohang successfully hosted the 12th Gyeongbuk Province Lifelong Learning Expo, held for the first time in ten years, demonstrating its operational capabilities.

Major achievements include providing lifelong learning through a total of 1,272 courses, such as AI and digital literacy classes, to more than 20,000 citizens. The city also established a membership management system at the Baetmeori Lifelong Learning Center Senior Hall (used by about 1,000 people daily), enabling more efficient management.

Last year, the city completed facility improvement projects at the Hodong Workers' Welfare Center, offering workers a more pleasant space for education and relaxation.

In addition, the city strengthened its competitiveness as a global learning city by operating specialized programs at each library and organizing art exhibitions using AI and AR technologies.

Efforts were also made to enhance competitiveness as a global lifelong learning city by implementing the Pohun Heunghae Library's music specialization project, operating specialized programs at each library, and organizing art exhibitions utilizing artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

This year, the city aims to create an inclusive learning society for all citizens by fostering learning that connects all generations.

First, under the slogan "Pohang, a Great Place for Raising Children in the Era of Low Birthrates," the city will operate programs such as "Book Gifts for New Parents" and "Robot Reading to Children," a library-based reading program for infants and toddlers.

To support career and employment education tailored to middle-aged and older adults, the city will offer vocational exploration education, training in promising employment fields (such as digital and care worker programs), and joint programs with local universities and educational institutions. The city will also run "Eumakdang," a hybrid online-offline music school, to create a musical culture ecosystem where every individual can play at least one instrument.

The Senior Hall will move beyond being a simple hobby space by offering learning programs such as billiards and pocket billiards that utilize seniors' talents, as well as digital education, contributing to a sense of accomplishment and empowerment among the elderly.

The city is also working to create a barrier-free library environment by establishing gateways and BF kiosks. Customized multisensory education for people with disabilities and specialized programs for multicultural families and office workers are also planned.

Pohang City Art Museum's second building, which began construction in December 2025, is on track for completion in 2027. The city plans to develop it into a community complex cultural space linked with the Yeongilman Tourism Special Zone and establish it as a new artistic landmark and global attraction for Pohang.