Editorial Paying Attention to Superintendent An Min-seok's 'Gyeonggi LAS Liberal Arts Education' in the AI Era
As AI has advanced into fields once considered the exclusive domain of humans, it is increasingly replacing human roles. Human anxiety over competition with AI for jobs is growing ever larger. In fact, Microsoft reportedly laid off 4,800 employees. Big tech companies such as Amazon and Meta are also experiencing an 'AI Hiring Pause' phenomenon involving layoffs.
Therefore, it is important to develop soft skills—interpersonal and self-management competencies necessary for working with people, such as communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving. Soft skills are human abilities that AI finds difficult to imitate. Among these, literacy is likely the most important. It is the ability to judge 'what questions to ask' and 'whether information obtained through AI is accurate,' and to use such information appropriately at the right time and place.
This is why we are paying attention to Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education An Min-seok's 'Gyeonggi Educational Transformation: LAS Liberal Arts Education.' (Related article: Suwon Ilbo, 28th, 'Superintendent An Min-seok of Gyeonggi Education: "Gyeonggi Educational Transformation is an Uncharted Path, but a Path We Must Take"') On the 28th morning, Superintendent An introduced five policy initiatives for 'Gyeonggi Educational Transformation' at a press briefing held at the Southern Provincial Office. They are 'Phone-Free School,' 'Teacher Rights Protection Unit,' 'Education Superintendent Open Recruitment,' 'Breaking Walls Accord,' and 'LAS Gyeonggi Liberal Arts Education.'
Among these, 'LAS Gyeonggi Liberal Arts Education' is a project for students' holistic development. The 'LAS (Literacy, Art, Sports) Gyeonggi Liberal Arts Education' is an evolution of the 'S·R·P (Sports·Play·Reading) Education' that Superintendent An pledged as a candidate. Superintendent An explains that literacy, creativity, and physical strength are essential competencies in the AI era. His statement that cultural citizenship education, character education, emotional education, and healthy physical education are necessary above all in the AI era is sound.
To enhance literacy, Superintendent An explained that he will expand reading over 100 books over 12 years, writing, and question and discussion-centered classes to develop students' thinking skills, expressive abilities, and media literacy. He also announced plans to implement cultural and arts education where students can directly experience, feel, express, and enjoy music, visual arts, performances, design, film, K-pop dance, orchestras, and regional cultural experiences. Superintendent An also plans to increase the proportion of sports activity education that promotes physical and mental health.
We are curious about the changes in students four years into Superintendent An Min-seok's vision of Gyeonggi education, presenting 'Gyeonggi LAS Liberal Arts Education' as a holistic education model combining literacy, cultural arts, and sports.