‘Humanities That Ask Questions’ in the AI Era ... ‘Humanities Week’ to Begin Nationwide on the 26th

[Financial News] The Ministry of Education and the Korean Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences will hold the 21st Humanities Week at 18 institutions nationwide from the 26th to November 1. This year’s theme is “Humanities That Ask Questions in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” and around 190 programs will be offered for members of the public to participate in directly.
Lee Hae-sook, head of the Ministry of Education’s Office of Higher and Lifelong Education Policy, said, “The faster AI provides answers, the more it is up to people to decide what to ask and how to assess those answers,” adding, “I hope this Humanities Week will give everyone in the country an opportunity to encounter the humanities close to home and develop the ability to ask questions for themselves.” The ministry said it chose this year’s theme because, in an era when AI rapidly generates knowledge and information, what to ask and how to assess the answers provided are becoming increasingly important.
The Humanities Week proclamation ceremony and commemorative seminar will be held at 2 p.m. on the 26th in Meeting Room 9 at the National Assembly. They are jointly hosted and organized by National Assembly Education Committee lawmakers Kim Moon-soo and Baek Seung-a, the Korean Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Association of Deans of Humanities Colleges at national, public and private universities nationwide. A keynote conversation, academic presentations and a plenary discussion will explore changes in university humanities education and the direction of national humanities policy.
Events highlighting local characteristics will take place across the country. In Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Humanities City Project Team at Dongguk University WISE Campus will offer tours of Bunhwangsa Temple and Choi Buja’s historic residence, along with a calligraphy performance. In Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Sun Moon University will hold hands-on ongii pottery-making activities and visits to historical sites, as well as an awards ceremony for a contest featuring reviews of Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Yi Sun-sin) and travelogues of historic sites.
In Seoul, Dongguk University will hold an event themed “AI and Humans: Reflecting Through the Humanities,” while in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, the Catholic University of Korea will hold one themed “In the AI Era, Everyone Is an Artist.”
Humanities Week has been held every year during the last week of October since 2006 to popularize the humanities and disseminate research achievements.
[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter