President Lee Hyunseok of Korea Elevator University Runs for Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education ... "A Superintendent for Students' Future, Not for a Specific Ideology"

Lee Hyunseok, president of Korea Elevator University, officially declared his candidacy for the Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education in the nationwide local elections to be held on June 3.

On the 23rd, Lee held a press conference in the briefing room of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council and stated, "Amid rapid changes such as a sharp decline in the school-age population, widening educational gaps between regions, and AI- and digital-based future education, I am declaring my candidacy for Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education to create a bright future for our children and a new hope for education in Gyeongnam."

Lee Hyunseok, president of Korea Elevator University, is holding a press conference to announce his candidacy for Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education. Photo by Lee Seryeong

He first stressed, "Education is neither conservative nor progressive; it is about the future of students," adding, "I will not be a superintendent driven by a specific ideology, but a superintendent who puts above all else the happiness of students and the advancement of education in Gyeongnam."

He went on to say, "I will expand classes that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), while creating a Gyeongnam-style model of human-centered AI education that cultivates empathy, cooperation, and ethical thinking, which are uniquely human."

He also pledged to reduce the educational gap between urban and rural areas by realizing AI- and digital-based personalized education; to provide equal support for quality educational opportunities for learners of all ages, from childcare and early education to lifelong education for adult learners; to offer customized education for children from dual-income families, low-income households, multicultural backgrounds, and for students in special education; and to operate an all-day integrated care system linked with the local community.

Lee further stated, "I will institutionalize a structure in which students, school staff, and parents can actually propose and discuss policies, reduce the authority of the Office of Education, and create an Office of Education where the language of each school directly becomes policy."

He added, "Through education linked to local industries, we will cultivate local talent equipped with competence and skills, and ensure that this talent can fully demonstrate its capabilities in our region."

He continued, "I will create schools where teachers feel the reward of teaching and parents can entrust their children with peace of mind," referring to plans to refine safety nets that protect educational activities, foster a culture in which both teachers' authority and students' human rights are respected in a balanced way, and support 'schools that grow together' through collaboration and communication among all educational stakeholders.

In addition, he pledged, "Above all, I will be a superintendent who is truly committed to creating classrooms filled with the happy faces and laughter of children," and vowed, "I will change children's tomorrow now, so that we can quickly escape the disgrace of having the highest suicide rate among OECD countries."

Lee said, "I will carry forward the achievements of Gyeongnam education to date, such as student experiential learning, the preemptive introduction of IT education, and the '30 Safe School Bag' initiative," adding, "I will resolve issues such as the insufficient normalization of public education, the increase in private education, school violence, and violations of teachers' authority, and boldly reform policies that have failed to reflect voices from the field."

He concluded, "Providing the correct answers is the role that artificial intelligence will take on, while education should be a process of discovering what one likes and what one does well," and added, "I will realize an education system in which students, equipped with creativity and critical thinking, can harmonize artificial intelligence with emotional intelligence, take the lead in shaping their own lives, and have their right to pursue happiness fully guaranteed."