APEC education leaders gather in Korea to tackle learning gaps in digital era
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Education leaders and global experts from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered Wednesday on Jeju Island for the 7th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting, opening a high-level dialogue on advancing inclusive and sustainable education in the era of digital transformation.
Hosted by South Korea's 2025 APEC chairmanship, the meeting brought together some 200 participants, including ministerial delegations from 20 out of 21 APEC member economies. The forum convened for the first time in nine years, with the aim of shaping a shared vision for education systems that can adapt to rapid technological and social change.
This year's meeting is held under the theme: 'Bridging Educational Gaps and Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Era of Digital Transformation: Innovate, Connect, Prosper,' aligning with the broader APEC 2025 motto of 'Building a Sustainable Tomorrow.'
In his keynote remarks at the opening ceremony, acting President and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho emphasized the need to close educational gaps and build a sustainable society where people and technology grow together.
Lee highlighted that APEC's legacy of overcoming crises, from the 1997 Asian financial crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic, must now evolve to address unprecedented challenges such as digital disruption, climate change and demographic shifts.
'This meeting should mark a turning point for deeper APEC cooperation in education,' Lee said, adding that rapid digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence have brought humanity to a moment of civilizational challenge that requires renewed global collaboration in education.
He emphasized that 'people are at the center of all change,' and that learning and growth are key to not only national competitiveness but also the sustainable prosperity of the global community.
Lee introduced South Korea's recent education reforms, including the implementation of AI-based digital textbooks that aim to tailor learning to each student's pace and needs. He also pointed to universities' roles as regional innovation hubs working with industries and public institutions to solve community problems.
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Korea's 5·3·1 Education Reform Plan, a landmark initiative involving cross-sectoral collaboration, Lee said the country's experience demonstrates how bold policy shifts can guide education over generations. While acknowledging different evaluations of the reforms, he noted that the early visions of globalization and digitalization are now being realized.
Highlighting South Korea's own experience of achieving both economic growth and social development with the landmark '5·3·1 Education Reform' of 1995, Lee said bold policy shifts can guide education over generations.
"118 revolutionary tasks, as a whole, have been an educational compass over the seven administrations," Lee said, noting that while political perspectives may differ, 'there is a general consensus that the reform laid the foundation for digitization and globalization.
He called on APEC members to share challenges and strategies openly, affirming that education does not develop in isolation and that cooperation built on mutual respect and shared practice is the only path toward achieving inclusive learning for all.
The AEMM is expected to yield a joint statement among participating economies reaffirming commitments to addressing educational inequality and promoting collaboration amid technological advancement.
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