[Editorial] In the AI Era, Attention Turns to Superintendent An Min-seok's 'Gyeonggi LAS Liberal Arts and Physical Education'

As AI advances into areas once considered uniquely human domains, it increasingly replaces human roles. The anxiety among people grows as AI competes for jobs with humans. In fact, Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees. Major tech companies like Amazon and Meta are also witnessing an 'AI Hiring Pause' phenomenon with layoffs and other cutbacks.

Therefore, it is important to cultivate soft skills—interpersonal and self-management competencies needed to work with people—such as communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving. Soft skills are uniquely human abilities that AI finds difficult to imitate. Among these, literacy is particularly crucial. It involves the ability to judge 'what questions to ask,' 'whether information obtained through AI is accurate,' and to use this information appropriately at the right time and place.

This is why attention is being drawn to Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education An Min-seok's 'Gyeonggi LAS Liberal Arts and Physical Education Transformation.' (Related article: News S, 28th, 'Superintendent An Min-seok: "Gyeonggi Education Transformation is an Untaken Path, but a Path We Must Take"') On the morning of the 28th, Superintendent An introduced five policy initiatives for educational reform at the 'Gyeonggi Education Transformation' briefing with press correspondents held at the Southern Provincial Office. These are 'Phone-Free Schools,' 'Teacher Rights Protection Team,' 'Open Competition for District Superintendent,' 'Breaking Walls Agreements,' and 'LAS Gyeonggi Liberal Arts and Physical Education.'

Among these, 'LAS Gyeonggi Liberal Arts and Physical Education' is a project for students' holistic development. 'LAS (Literacy, Arte, Sports) Gyeonggi Liberal Arts and Physical Education' represents an evolution of the 'S·R·P (Sports·Play·Reading) Education' that Superintendent An announced as a campaign promise during his candidacy. Superintendent An explains that literacy, creativity, and physical fitness are essential competencies in the AI era. His assertion 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 plans to expand reading over 100 books during 12 years along with writing, and question and discussion-centered classes to develop students' critical thinking, expressive ability, and media literacy. Additionally, he announced that he will implement cultural and arts education where students can directly experience, feel, express, and enjoy music, visual arts, performances, design, video, K-POP dance, orchestra, and regional cultural experiences. Superintendent An also plans to increase the weight given to sports activity education that promotes physical and mental health.

With Superintendent An Min-seok of Gyeonggi Province presenting 'Gyeonggi LAS Liberal Arts and Physical Education' as a holistic education model combining literacy, cultural arts, and sports, attention is turning to how students will change over the four-year Gyeonggi education transformation.