▲ A number of parents and elementary school students are participating in a special lecture titled "Let's Go On An Economic Picnic Together!" by Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center at CWNU (Source : CWNU Waagle)

CWNU's Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center, established in 2015, plays a vital role in assisting Gyeongnam residents in navigating the various economic decisions they encounter in their lives. One particularly successful program offered by the center is, "Let's Go On An Economics Picnic," aimed at providing children with valuable economic education. This initiative has garnered a highly positive response from participants. To gain further insight into the center's ongoing programs, an interview was conducted with Professor Kang Bo- kyung from the Department of Global Business, who currently serves as the head of the Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center.

Q. Please introduce yourself.

Kang: Hello, I'm Professor Kang Bo- kyung, the head of the Department of Global Business at CWNU and also the head of the Gyeongnam Economic Education Center.

Q. What is the role of the Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center?

Kang: The Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center is one of several economic education centers established under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. Our center specifically focuses on providing economic education to the residents of Gyeongsangnam-do. We offer economic education not only to students in elementary, middle, and high schools, but also to adults, teenagers, college students, and individuals who are just entering society. Moreover, we actively reach out to individuals who may be overlooked in terms of economic education, such as people with disabilities, children from single- parent households, marriage migrants, and the elderly.

Q. What inspired you to organize an economic play for local elementary school students and a special lecture titled, "Let's Go On An Economic Picnic Together, a Special Day With My Child!"?

Kang: We believe that economic education is an essential part of upbringing and should be integrated into home training. With our Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center program, we aimed to foster economic awareness among parents and facilitate mutual learning and growth.

Q. How do you feel about delivering a special lecture on economics to children?

Kang: At the Gyeongnam Regional Center in Gyeongsang Province, we made an effort to generate interest among children by offering certificates, awards, and souvenirs to the elementary school students who participated in this special lecture. I felt a great sense of pride witnessing their active engagement and enjoyment during the session.

Q. What are the future plans for the Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center?

Kang: Our future plans involve expanding our educational initiatives for elementary school students and parents. By providing ample support, we strive to help elementary school students develop their economic knowledge and skills. Additionally, we have plans to extend our programs to cater to individuals who currently lack access to economic education.

Q. If there's anything you would like to share, please feel free to do so.

Kang: Firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the professors of the Global Business Department for their invaluable support in running the center. Given the opportunity, I would like to develop a program that addresses the challenges and difficulties faced by international students while living in Korea. I kindly request your continued attention to such initiatives. Additionally, it is important to recognize that Korean students also require ongoing economic education to ensure a smooth transition into society as competent economic participants after graduation. However, students who are not affiliated with the College of Economics & Business may encounter difficulties in accessing economic education. Therefore, we are more than willing to organize special lectures on economic concepts for any CWNU students who wish to receive such education.

The Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center at CWNU is dedicated to providing economic education to diverse groups within the province through a range of programs, fostering co- prosperity with local residents. Moreover, the center offers various educational opportunities for foreign migrants, actively contributing to the development of Gyeongsangnam- do. CWNU students are also encouraged to engage with the Gyeongnam Regional Economic Education Center to receive economic education by seeking information and participating in their programs.

By Kim Min-seong, cub-reporter  kms9494274@gmail.com

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