800 Attend Book Launch of Mokpo National University Professor Go Dugap... Is He Preparing to Run for Superintendent of Education?

"Educational Inequality is the Root Cause of Low Birth Rate"
Political Leaders Send Congratulatory Messages

Professor Go Dugap of Mokpo National University held a book launch event for his book "Asking the Path of Education in the Era of Great Transformation" on the 17th at the Glocal Startup Center on the Namaak Campus, where he presented his vision for closing the educational gap.

The event was attended by over 800 people, including local education officials, parents, and citizens. Politicians such as Kim Won-i, Chairperson of the Jeonnam Provincial Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea; Park Beom-gye, former Minister of Justice; Jun Hyun-hee, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea; Joo Cheol-hyeon, former Chairperson of the Jeonnam Provincial Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea; Yong Hyein, Leader of the Basic Income Party; Yoo Eun-hae, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education; and National Assemblyman Jo Gye-hyeon sent congratulatory video messages.

Professor Go Dugap of Mokpo National University held a book launch event for his book "Asking the Path of Education in the Era of Great Transformation" on the 17th at the Glocal Startup Center on the Namaak Campus. Photo provided by Go Dugap's office

Kang Namhoon, Professor Emeritus at Hanshin University and former Head of Policy at the Basic Social Committee, who attended the event in person, said in his congratulatory speech, "Professor Go Dugap is a figure who possesses both academic expertise and a deep understanding of the field," adding, "This book will become an important milestone in closing the educational gap."

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Go stated, "What I have realized over the past 20 years teaching economics at university is that at the deepest root of the economy, there are always 'people,' and the only way to nurture people is through 'education.'"

He went on to diagnose, "The fundamental cause of Korea's low birth rate and the crisis of regional extinction lies in educational inequality," emphasizing, "It is urgent to rebuild the broken ladder of social mobility and to create a 'fair starting line' where a child's future is not determined by their parents' background."

During the book talk, held in a conversation format with Professor Song Jumyung of Hanshin University, Professor Go presented five major visions as concrete solutions to rescue the education sector in crisis.

Through his book, he proposed: ▲ Strengthening basic literacy, for which public education is responsible; ▲ Universal educational welfare that goes beyond simple school meals to address the gap in experiences; ▲ Fostering independent intellects who ask questions in the age of AI; ▲ Inclusive education that expands schools into spaces for life; and ▲ A lifelong education model based on municipal cooperation utilizing closed schools.

Meanwhile, Professor Go is recognized as a policy expert who, as a professor of economics at Mokpo National University, advised on the policy design of the "Jeonnam Student Education Allowance" introduced in 2024 and led the legislative process for designating Cheonil salt as a food product, thereby addressing major regional issues.

It is reported that Professor Go is considering running for Superintendent of Education in Jeonnam Province in the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June.