Choi Eun-ok Appointed as New Vice Minister of Education... Emphasizes Four Major Policies Including 'National Responsibility Education'

[Financial News] Choi Eun-ok, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Education, held an inauguration ceremony at the Sejong Complex on the 14th. Vice Minister Choi presented four major policy directions in his inaugural address, including strengthening public education, nurturing future talents in the AI era, creating a happy school community, and driving national balanced development through education. He stated, "We will become a Ministry of Education that listens to the school field, communicates closely, and supports practical changes in the field."
Vice Minister Choi first expressed, "I feel honored to take on the first Vice Minister of Education position under the people's sovereignty government, and I feel a heavy sense of responsibility amid high expectations for changes in education policy." He then pledged, "I will dedicate myself to the development of education and do my best during my term."
Additionally, Vice Minister Choi emphasized that "education is a 'hundred-year plan,' and in the rapidly changing technological advancement and AI normalization, it is important to ponder the essence of education regarding 'what kind of talents we will nurture.'" To this end, he stressed, "The Ministry of Education must support the growth of children who will lead the future of Korea and become the department that prepares for the future most proactively."
Vice Minister Choi announced that he would focus on the following four key directions for the successful implementation of the new government's educational pledges.
First, strengthening the national responsibility for public education. He said, "We must strengthen basic academic support to ensure that no student is left out of learning, paying attention to each child." By providing quality education and care services from early childhood to elementary school, actively responding to care demands, and creating a safe educational environment where parents can feel at ease, the plan is to transform into 'trusted public education.'
Second, nurturing future talents through educational innovation in the AI era. He emphasized, "We must lead a change in the educational paradigm so that Korea can leap forward again in the AI era with the power of education, which has been the core driving force of our country's growth." The plan is to strengthen the educational base from elementary, middle, and high schools to universities and lifelong education, focusing on fostering humanities education and basic academic disciplines that enhance thinking power and imagination.
Third, creating a happy citizen growth school community. He emphasized civic education through communication and discussion so that social values of recognizing and respecting each other can be cultivated from the classroom. He explained, "We must support students to develop the power to ask questions, discuss, understand, and practice on their own, and grow into healthy citizens." He also said he would do his best to create an environment where teachers can focus on education by taking care of students' physical and mental health.
Lastly, driving national balanced development through education. He said, "We will cooperate with universities, local governments, and related ministries for structural improvement of higher education and sustainable co-growth of regions and universities." He added that efforts would be made to create a virtuous cycle system where local talents can settle in the region even after graduation.

monarch@fnnews.com Kim Manki Reporter