Soheul Lifelong Learning Center in Pocheon Sees Huge Success with First Regular Courses: "A New Local Learning Hub Is Born"

Full-Scale Operation Begins at Soheul Lifelong Learning Center in Pocheon
Over 900 Citizens Flock to Courses, Marking a Strong Start

On January 23, Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced that the Soheul Lifelong Learning Center, established as a regional hub for lifelong learning, has entered a stable phase of settlement, drawing high citizen participation in its first regular course operation.

Pocheon City’s Sohul Lifelong Learning Center, established as a regional hub for lifelong learning, is drawing high citizen participation in its first regular course operation. Photo by Pocheon City

The Soheul Lifelong Learning Center, located within the 'Dooreundooreun' education and culture complex space in Taebong Park, was created to build a lifelong learning infrastructure centered on local communities. During the recruitment for the first regular course, the center received an enthusiastic response, with around 900 applicants for 29 courses across six fields: humanities and liberal arts, certification, health management, culture and arts, digital skills, and everyday knowledge. Of these, approximately 430 participants were finally selected for 25 courses, which are currently underway.

The first session of regular courses runs for 15 weeks, from January 16 to April 30, with classes scheduled evenly across weekdays (daytime and evening) and weekends, allowing people of various age groups-including office workers, middle-aged adults, and seniors-to participate.

In particular, there has been concentrated demand for courses focused on physical activity and practical digital skills, such as equipment-based Pilates, artificial intelligence (AI) YouTube video production, exciting English conversation, and ballet. This shows that citizens’ interest in learning is translating into active participation.

One citizen who participated in the regular courses said, "I am satisfied that I can take a course I was interested in as a regular program close to home," adding, "The systematic operation of the classes makes learning a source of vitality in my daily life."

A Pocheon City official stated, "The Soheul Lifelong Learning Center was established as a community-based lifelong learning hub so that citizens can naturally continue learning in their daily lives," and added, "Based on the citizen demand and on-site feedback confirmed through the operation of the first regular courses, we will continue to expand our programs."

Meanwhile, based on the results of the first session, Pocheon City plans to gradually improve the composition and operation of courses for the second regular session to more closely reflect citizen demand.