Gokseong-gun was selected as an ‘excellent’ city-county in the 2024 city-county lifelong education revitalization evaluation. Gokseong-gun Future Education Foundation (Chairman Jo Sang-rae) was selected as an excellent city adn county in the city-county lifelong education revitalization evaluation hosted by Jeollanam-do this year.
Jeollanam-do has been conducting evaluations on lifelong education projects in 22 cities and counties every year for the past three years. The evaluation items comprehensively analyze the results, including the dedicated association, lifelong education budget, operational performance of contested projects or in-house projects, and best practices.
In evaluations where awards and incentives are given for best, excellent, and encouragement, Gokseong-gun has always been recognized as an excellent city and county and a leading city in lifelong education.
In particular,this year,it received a good grade of grand prize at the 24th korea Lifelong Learning Awards,establishing itself as an advanced lifelong learning city.
In this city-county lifelong education revitalization evaluation, Gokseong-gun was recognized with additional points in all categories, including university-linked projects, national awards, and participation in Jeollanam-do public contest projects, and also received good scores for developing various independent projects.
A county official said, “By being selected as an excellent city and county, we received an incentive of 8 million won, and it was an opportunity to feel rewarded for our work.”
The Ministry of Education conducts an evaluation for lifelong learning city re-designation every year, and local governments are divided into districts, cities, and counties to evaluate whether or not they will be re-designated as lifelong learning cities every three years.Gokseong-gun must evaluate it’s project performance as a lifelong learning city for three years in 2025.
Simultaneously occurring, Gokseong-gun announced that the ‘2024 Korean Customary Music Class Student Presentation’ held at the Gokseong Traditional Korean Music Training Center on the 4th (Wednesday) was successfully concluded.
Gokseong Korean Traditional Music Training Center started a traditional Korean music class last year and has been operating classes in a total of eight fields: ▲Janggu, ▲Nongak, ▲Pansori, ▲Korean dance, ▲Gayageum, ▲Folk song, ▲Daegeum, and ▲Haegeum.
The event consisted of a presentation to show off the skills of the students who studied hard for a year in the Korean traditional music classroom,a performance by professional instructors who passionately taught the students,and a graduation ceremony.
About 80 students who took classes on various instruments and genres that continue the tradition of Korean traditional music showed off their accumulated skills and received loud cheers and applause from the audience.
Then, professional instructors presented a traditional Korean music performance. ▲Payment ▲Pansori ▲Folk song ,▲25-string gayageum ▲Jiyounghee style Haegeum Sanjo ▲Jindo drum dance,and ▲seoljanggu performance,the presentation ended with the participants once again experiencing the diverse charms of Korean traditional music.
Students who participated in the presentation that day said, “I am so glad that there is a program where one can learn traditional Korean music professionally. Although I was nervous on stage, it was a very enjoyable and meaningful time.My love for Korean traditional music has grown even more, and I want to continue learning it in the future. “I want to share the beauty of our traditional Korean music with more people.”
An official from the Korean traditional music training center said, “This event was designed to provide Korean traditional music students with an opportunity to fully display the skills they have honed over the past year. “I was able to feel that the future of traditional culture is bright through the passion and skills shown by the students, and we plan to continue to provide opportunities to learn and develop Korean traditional music, so we ask for your participation.”
Economy Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo: Gokseong-gun
What initiatives has Gokseong-gun implemented to excel in lifelong education?
Interview Between the editor of Time.news and Jo Sang-rae, Chairman of the Gokseong-gun Future Education Foundation
Editor: Welcome, Jo Sang-rae! It’s a pleasure to have you here.Congratulations on Gokseong-gun being recognized as an ‘excellent’ city-county in the 2024 city-county lifelong education revitalization evaluation. That’s a remarkable achievement! How did it feel when you first heard the news?
Jo sang-rae: Thank you! It’s an honor to be here. When I first heard the news, I felt a tremendous sense of pride and responsibility. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team at the Gokseong-gun Future Education Foundation, as well as the supportive community we serve.
Editor: It sounds like a team effort indeed! For those unfamiliar, could you elaborate on the evaluation process conducted by Jeollanam-do? What specific criteria did Gokseong-gun excel in?
Jo Sang-rae: Certainly! Jeollanam-do assesses lifelong education projects based on several key criteria, including the establishment of a dedicated association, budget allocation for lifelong education, the operational performance of various projects, and best practices. Gokseong-gun has consistently met and exceeded these benchmarks,showcasing our commitment to education and community development.
Editor: That’s impressive. Lifelong education is vital in today’s rapidly changing world. What initiatives or programs in Gokseong-gun do you believe contributed most to this recognition?
Jo Sang-rae: We have implemented several innovative programs, but I would highlight our community-centered approach, wich emphasizes collaboration between local organizations, schools, and residents.Programs such as adult learning workshops, digital literacy training, and cultural enrichment activities have empowered our citizens and fostered a culture of continuous learning.
Editor: Collaboration seems to be the key! How have the residents responded to these initiatives? Can you share any success stories that stand out to you?
Jo Sang-rae: Absolutely! One story that stands out is of a local farmer who attended our agricultural education programme. Through the skills and knowledge she gained, she transformed her farming methods, resulting in a significant increase in her crop yield.Her success inspired many others in the community to participate in similar programs, strengthening our local economy.
Editor: That’s a powerful example of how education can transform lives. Looking ahead, what are your future plans for Gokseong-gun’s lifelong education initiatives?
Jo Sang-rae: We are looking to expand our digital learning opportunities and create more partnerships with local businesses to provide vocational training. We also aim to enhance our existing programs based on feedback from the community, ensuring we meet their evolving needs.
Editor: It sounds like Gokseong-gun is on a promising path! Before you go, what message would you like to convey to other city-county leaders striving for excellence in lifelong education?
Jo Sang-rae: I would say collaboration and community engagement are essential. Listen to your residents, understand their needs, and create inclusive programs that foster growth and learning for all ages. Together, we can build a brighter future through education.
Editor: Thank you, Jo Sang-rae, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. It’s been a pleasure talking with you, and we look forward to seeing Gokseong-gun continue to thrive!
Jo Sang-rae: Thank you for having me! I appreciate the possibility to discuss our work, and I look forward to sharing more successes in the future.