Gwangju Seogu Selected as Lifelong Learning City for Persons with Disabilities for 5 Consecutive Years

Selected for Ministry of Education Contest
Secures 45 Million Won in Performance Incentives
Programs in AI and Digital Fields

Exterior of Gwangju Seo-gu Office

Seogu District of Gwangju Metropolitan City has been selected for the lifelong learning city for persons with disabilities public contest project for the fifth consecutive year. Seogu announced that it was selected for the specialized support category of the "2026 Lifelong Learning City for Persons with Disabilities" public contest project, organized by the National Institute of Special Education under the Ministry of Education, and secured a performance incentive of 45 million won.

The lifelong learning city for persons with disabilities public contest project has been promoted by the Ministry of Education since 2022 to support capacity building for persons with disabilities and to vitalize disability lifelong education centered on local communities. The specialized support category is implemented for cities that have been selected for the public contest project for at least three years.

Previously, since 2022, Seogu has been selected for the public contest project for four consecutive years, and has built a network with 16 daytime care centers in the district, using the Seogu Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities as a hub, and has been promoting customized lifelong education programs for persons with disabilities.

This year, to create a barrier-free lifelong learning city, Seogu plans to operate a total of 26 customized programs tailored to different types of disabilities, including 6 programs in the AI and digital fields (such as Kio School) and 20 courses in region-specific fields such as environment, culture and arts, and civic participation (such as the Vegan Project and Green Leader Academy).

In particular, Seogu will operate a program for creating scenarios utilizing artificial intelligence in response to the rapidly changing digital environment. In addition, it will carry out a project to produce educational materials to improve disability awareness directly created by persons with disabilities, along with community contribution activities in which persons with and without disabilities participate together.

Seogu District Mayor Kim Ikang said, "We aim to build a 'barrier-free lifelong learning city Seogu' where all Seogu residents are not discriminated against in learning," adding, "We will do our best to create a disability-friendly lifelong learning environment where anyone can learn anytime and anywhere, beyond the boundaries between disability and non-disability."