By Lee Jon-young

 

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the '2024 New Year Ceremony for the Education Industry' held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on Jan. 17 to express his gratitude and respect for the hard work of teachers who are protecting the profession with dedication and passion.

 

The New Year Ceremony for the Education Industry is the largest New Year's event in the education industry held every year, where teachers from elementary, middle, high schools and universities, as well as representatives of education-related organizations and institutions, gather together to pray for the development of education and share virtues and wishes for the new year.

 

 

It was the first time in eight years since former President Park Geun-hye attended the New Year's Day ceremony for the education community, and the President personally delivered New Year's greetings to teachers who are teaching students with love and listened to various stories from the education field.

 

The President expressed his gratitude and respect for teachers, saying, "I grew up in a family of educators, so I grew up learning the role of teachers and how students and parents should treat and respect them."

 

The President then personally introduced and encouraged Lee Eun-sun, principal of Heungdeok Middle School in Gyeonggi Province, where nine members of her family have been in the teaching profession for three generations, and Lee Seung-oh, a teacher at Hyehwa School in Cheongju, who has created an entrepreneurship club with students with retardation and disabilities to inspire students with dreams and courage.

 

 

The President said, "The establishment of school authority guarantees student rights, and in that sense, the establishment of school authority is ultimately for the benefit of students," adding, "I will continue to listen to the voices of teachers and continue to look for more fundamental solutions."

 

The President also emphasized that the pace of educational innovation must be increased to keep pace with the pace of social development. "We must work together to further diversify educational programs and nurture students' creativity," he said. "Above all, school should be fun," the President said, promising that he and his government will do their best to change the educational environment so that teachers can teach with peace of mind and students can learn with happiness."

 

The President concluded by saying that Korea has economy and social affairs ministers because education, along with the economy, is the most important factor in our national affairs, and encouraged the attendees to "let our teachers and the government work together to build a truly wonderful school together."

 

At the event, members of the education field, including teachers, parents, and students, shared their New Year's wishes and hoped that schools would become a happy place of learning for everyone.

 

Kim Sun, a teacher at Dunjeon Elementary School in Gyeonggi Province, said that the role of education was crucial for national development and asked for the unwavering support of all sectors of society for our education. He then proposed a toast with grape juice, saying, "To a happy school where teachers, students, and parents are all happy.”

 

Jang Shin-ho, President of Seoul National University of Education, expressed his gratitude for the President's participation in the New Year's Day ceremony and proposed a toast to "Korea's education and national development," saying that we should wisely overcome the difficult environment facing the education field together.

 

Kim Mi-hyun, a teacher at Bonghwang Elementary School in Gimhae, said she was very happy to receive the Presidential Award at the National Education Data Exhibition last year, emphasizing that teachers' dedicated efforts play a role in guiding the growth and development of our children. 

 

She also said that the passage of the Education Act 5 has laid the foundation for a stable educational environment, and she hopes that schools will become a happy place filled with the dreams of students and teachers this year.

 

Lee Ho-dong, a parent from Yeongdong Middle School in Seoul, said she hopes that all members of the educational community will be considerate and respectful of each other, and that this year they will work together to build a good school by removing distrust and supporting each other.

 

Han Do-ha, a 4th grader at Daechi Elementary School in Seoul, expressed his gratitude to his teachers for helping him win the Prime Minister's Award at the National Student Science Invention Contest last year. Han, who expressed his hope that his invention (a lifting device that can give directions and see underfoot) will help many people, drew applause from those around him as he shared his dream of becoming an aerospace scientist in the future and developing Korea's space industry.

 

Finally, the President and the participants took a group photo with the slogan "Let education be education, and school be school" and wished for the success of our education system in the coming year.

 

The event was attended by Yeo Nan-shil, acting president of the Korean National Education Association, and 180 teachers and representatives of education-related organizations and institutions, while the government was represented by Lee Ju-ho, deputy prime minister and minister of education, Lee Bae-yong, chairman of the National Education Commission, Sung Tae-yoon, chief of policy at the presidential office, and Jang Sang-yoon, social chief.