Breaking: Education Future Social Dialogue Lets 700 participants Shape Korea’s Classroom of Tomorrow
On the afternoon of January 14, 2026, a major public forum opened at the Baekje educational and Cultural Center near the new Kongju University campus. The event, titled Social Dialogue for Korea’s education Future, gathered participants and experts to discuss the path forward for education in the country.
More than 20 education-focused organizations co-hosted the gathering, with support from the Sejong Office of Education Policy Research Institute, the Chungnam Office of education Policy Research Institute, and the National Teachers and Education Workers Union. The collaboration was conducted in partnership with a civic platform referred to as the Party.
Approximately 700 attendees pre-registered to review materials ahead of the event, and they were able to contribute their opinions in advance.Real-time program details and presentations were also shared on the day of the event.
The organizers stressed that the event would consolidate all phases of the process—from preparation for social dialogue through to progress and results—into one accessible space for public review.
Key Theme and Format
The central question posed to participants was: How can we create the future of education? The forum framed this as a nationwide social dialogue aimed at shaping Korea’s educational landscape.
After presentations on seven agenda items, attendees split into 80 discussion groups.each group developed one to two proposals related to their agenda and submitted them to the Party town Hall platform. Proposals were then open to public voting to identify those most needed for realization.
Ten dedicated teams assisted in running the Party Town Hall, ensuring a smooth collection and voting process for input from group discussions.
At the end of the group sessions, all 700 participants reconvened for a Town Hall meeting with the Minister of Education, where results and next steps were reviewed aloud.
What followed was a live check of group proposals and voting outcomes, with the minister providing feedback on the results. Final findings will be compiled and forwarded to the Ministry of Education and made publicly accessible through the Party Town Hall platform.
Officials described the Town Hall as a model for fostering a more transparent and collaborative public forum on education policy. The Town Hall platform is available at townhall.kr.
Event Snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | January 14, 2026 |
| 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | |
| Baekje Educational and Cultural Center, near the kongju University campus | |
| Social dialogue for the future of education in Korea | |
| Sejong Office of Education Policy Research Institute; Chungnam Office of Education Policy Research Institute; National teachers and Education Workers union | |
| Approximately 20 education-related organizations | |
| About 700 attendees | |
| Presentations on 7 items; 80 discussion groups; submission to Town Hall; real-time voting | |
| Proposals reviewed, ministerial feedback provided, results to be submitted to the Ministry of Education and published publicly |
What’s next
Following the event, organizers will compile the discussion results and map them into actionable steps for policymakers. Public access to the final outcomes will be provided via the Party Town Hall platform and related channels.
Readers can follow live updates and explore the proposals on the Party Town Hall site, and stay informed about any subsequent ministerial actions or policy announcements tied to this initiative.
Questions for readers: How should Korea balance quick policy action with thorough stakeholder consultation in education? What kinds of proposals from today would you most like to see translated into concrete reforms?
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on our platform.
