Sokcho Media Center Expands 'Customized Education'... Strengthening Its Role as a Media Hub in the Yeongbuk Region

From Customized Education to Training Media Professionals
113 Sessions Across 7 Fields... Bringing Media into Citizens’ Daily Lives

Sokcho Media Center is expanding its role as the first media hub in the Yeongbuk region, ushering in 2026 with citizen-oriented education and programs that can be tangibly felt by the community.

View of Sokcho City Hall.

Since its opening in November last year, Sokcho Media Center has attracted significant attention not only from citizens but also from neighboring local governments. Eight special lectures held since the opening drew 93 participants, and more than 500 people visited for field trips and tours, demonstrating the center’s successful operation.

The main participating organizations include: △Sodam Summerhill and Raon Daycare Centers and other early childhood facilities; △Sokcho Middle School and Saesol Community Child Center and other youth institutions; △Gaonnuri Independent Living Center and the Daytime Activity Center for People with Developmental Disabilities and other disability organizations; △Sokcho Senior Club’s SNS Press Corps, among others, resulting in visits from people of all ages. Through experiences such as the newsroom and dubbing, participants produced a total of 45 media projects themselves, enhancing their media literacy skills.

Building on these achievements, the center plans to actively reflect citizen demand in 2026 by operating a systematic curriculum covering seven fields, with a total of 113 sessions.

The core focus of this year’s education initiatives at the center is “customized education for users” and “training professional personnel.” Through a strategic approach to these two directions, the center aims to further improve the quality of life for citizens and strengthen the sustainability of the local media ecosystem.

First, the “video editing education” program, which received the highest demand from citizens during last year’s special lectures, will be offered as a regular course with 36 sessions throughout the year. This will help anyone develop production skills at their preferred time. For youth, the center is preparing educational programs and club activities to foster media literacy, while for local small business owners, it will further strengthen training in live commerce (real-time interactive sales) and promotional content production, supporting tangible increases in sales.

In addition, the center will launch educational initiatives to further solidify the region’s media ecosystem. To expand the pool of local media professionals, a separate media instructor training course will be offered. This program will enhance understanding of media and teach the qualities required of instructors, with the intention of employing program graduates as instructors rather than sourcing externally. Programs such as community radio training will also be provided to facilitate communication among residents.

Meanwhile, starting January 21, Sokcho Media Center will operate an equipment rental program, offering professional-grade equipment at affordable prices. This initiative is intended to support a production environment where citizens can continue filming and production activities without the burden of equipment costs.

Lee Byungseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, “We will focus on customized education and professional workforce development to enhance citizens’ media literacy,” adding, “We will do our utmost to provide education and programs that benefit the daily lives of a diverse range of people, from youth to small business owners to seniors.”