"We will continue to create diverse learning opportunities so that children can grow into proactive leaders."
Seocho-gu District Office chief Jeon Sung-su made the remarks Saturday as the 2026 Seocho Children's Leadership Conference wrapped up with a presentation ceremony in the main auditorium on the second floor of the district office, closing out five days of programming.
The conference was designed to help children develop civic awareness and problem-solving skills as future leaders. It focused on building independent thinking, initiative and social sensitivity through group discussion and presentation programs centered on a range of social issues.
Co-organized by four education support centers in Seocho-gu, the event ran from Tuesday through Saturday and brought together 82 fourth- through sixth-grade students from across the district. The closing presentation ceremony featured nine groups of nine students each, who presented findings from different perspectives on the question: "In the AI era, should we reduce our consumption to address the climate crisis?"
The first half of Saturday's event opened with welcoming remarks and a magic performance that energized the crowd. In the presentations that followed, students drew on the tension between "climate crisis driven by technological advancement" and "the need for technological progress to solve the climate crisis," logically mapping out a balance between reducing consumption and advancing technology — earning strong applause from the audience.
The second half concluded with a completion ceremony and group photo. About 200 parents and guests responded with warm applause to the young presenters' earnest delivery and substantive arguments. One parent said they were deeply impressed to see a child work through such a complex issue — one that even adults struggle to resolve — with such logical clarity.
"Amid accelerating advances in AI technology and rapid social change, the most important capacity children can develop is the ability to identify problems and find their own answers," Jeon said. "We will continue to provide diverse learning opportunities so that children can grow on their own terms."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
