Massive Success for Naju Dongshin University Book Concert...Enthusiasm Remains High
Superintendent Kim Daejung Presents Concrete Vision for AI Education
Leading Integrated K-Education in Gwangju and Jeonnam..."We Will Surpass the Seoul Metropolitan Area-Centered Single-Pole System"
"Jeonnam is preparing to build a Northeast Asian AI Energy Valley that includes a global AI data center and a national AI computing center. Based on this, we must create a virtuous cycle between education and jobs, just like Silicon Valley in the United States, centered around Stanford University."
Jeonnam Education Superintendent Kim Daejung has been drawing enthusiastic responses from provincial residents day after day as he presents a blueprint for the administrative and educational integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam and for "glocal future education." On the morning of the 21st, Kim held an author-invited book concert for his second book, "Glocal Future Education by Kim Daejung," at Dongshin University in Naju.
Following the first publication ceremony held at the Suncheonman Ecological Culture Education Center on the 7th, which drew more than 10,000 attendees according to the organizer's estimates and became a hot topic, the Naju event that day also attracted a steady stream of about 2,000 provincial residents, again based on the organizer's estimates, who came to offer their congratulations, demonstrating the undiminished interest and enthusiasm.
Kim Daejung, superintendent of education, presented a blueprint for the administrative and educational integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam and for 'Glocal Future Education' at his book concert. Reporter Lee Jungkyung
This completely overturned some expectations that the second event would be somewhat quiet due to the huge success of the first one. At the event, local members of the National Assembly who had attended the Suncheon publication ceremony and former education superintendents Jang Manchae and Jang Huikuk sent congratulatory messages via video, while Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung visited Naju in person following his visit to Suncheon to deliver congratulatory remarks and support the co-prosperous development of Gwangju and Jeonnam.
◆"Education is the key to settlement conditions"...Consensus building across sectors
In particular, during his keynote presentation, Superintendent Kim drew attention by repeatedly emphasizing the link between nurturing outstanding local talent and creating jobs through a presentation that utilized animation. He said, "Recently, Jeonnam has been preparing to establish a Northeast Asian AI Energy Valley that includes a global AI data center, a national AI computing center, and an artificial sun research facility," and stressed, "We must create a virtuous cycle between education and jobs based on this."
He went on to cite the example of Silicon Valley in the United States, explaining, "The talent nurtured by Stanford became the main players in start-ups and research, and their achievements created a virtuous cycle in which the results flowed back into regional growth."
He also argued, "We, too, must enhance our educational capacity so that universities in Gwangju and Jeonnam, such as the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), can continue to produce talent," and added, "We must also prepare customized curricula that are linked to jobs so that children in Gwangju and Jeonnam can realize a wide variety of dreams."
About 2,000 residents attended the Naju event that day, demonstrating undiminished interest and enthusiasm. Reporter Lee Jungkyung
During the subsequent book-concert talk session, many participants called for "improving the quality of public education" as a way to enhance local settlement conditions. Kim Seonghu, head of the Gwangju Regional Association of Certified Tax Accountants, said, "To successfully attract national institutions and global companies, an educational environment for employees' children is essential," and proposed, among other things, ▲advancing AI- and energy-specialized curricula ▲building a glocal school model that meets international standards ▲and completing an AI talent ladder that connects education and industry.
Kim Miran, president of the Bitgaram-dong Parents' Representative Council, also conveyed the atmosphere on the ground, saying, "Despite the creation of the innovation city, Naju has continued to experience an outflow of residents due to a lack of educational competitiveness," but added, "Fortunately, with the recent introduction of the IB curriculum, we have gained hope that top-level education is possible even in our region."
◆ Concluded amid enthusiastic response...Third book concert to be held in Mokpo on the 28th
Superintendent Kim responded by saying, "The top priority of integrating the education systems of Jeonnam and Gwangju is to overcome the Seoul metropolitan area-centered, single-pole education structure." He went on to emphasize, "If Jeonnam's 2030 classrooms and glocal future education are expanded to Gwangju, students will have a much broader range of futures open to them, and we will finally be able to break away from the Seoul metropolitan area-centered education system."
The event concluded successfully amid vigorous applause from the audience. Notably, throughout the venue, groups of provincial residents could be seen gathering in small clusters to engage in in-depth conversations about the changes and future that the administrative and educational integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam will bring to the region. Despite the large crowds moving in and out of the venue, the event was evaluated as having wrapped up in an orderly and safe manner, without major congestion, as a space for communication.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Kim's book concert, which has been enjoying continued popularity, is scheduled to hold its third meeting with readers on the theme of "Glocal Future Education to Prevent Regional Extinction" at the Mokpo International Football Center on the 28th.
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