Local Government Officials Development Institute holds '2026 Local Council Academy' in Daejeon

Curriculum covers regional balanced growth, AI and other key national policy priorities

The Local Government Officials Development Institute under the Ministry of Interior and Safety conducts a training session on "the role of local autonomy and local councils" for local lawmakers at the Changwon Convention Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on June 16. [Ministry of Interior and Safety]
The Local Government Officials Development Institute under the Ministry of Interior and Safety conducts a training session on "the role of local autonomy and local councils" for local lawmakers at the Changwon Convention Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on June 16. [Ministry of Interior and Safety]

The Local Government Officials Development Institute under the Ministry of Interior and Safety said Wednesday it will hold the "2026 Local Council Academy" in Daejeon, bringing together local lawmakers from across the country.

The academy was designed to deepen participants' understanding of the government's policy direction, strengthen cooperation between central and local governments, and enhance the policy capacity of local councils.

The curriculum covers four topics: South Korea's regional balanced growth strategy, AI policy and regional innovation, an overview of the national disaster management system, and speech techniques for building public trust — all tied to key policies and civic competencies directly relevant to local communities and residents' lives.

The first session, on South Korea's regional balanced growth strategy, examines the need for a government strategy to address the era of low birth rates and aging, outlines the policy direction, and discusses the role of local governments. It offers solutions for moving beyond a growth model centered on the Greater Seoul area, overcoming regional depopulation, and achieving sustainable national development.

The second session, on AI policy and regional innovation, explains trends in AI technology — which is driving sweeping change across public administration, industry, education and other sectors — along with government policy, and provides a policy perspective on applying AI at the local level.

The third session, on the national disaster management system, builds understanding of the concept of disasters and the country's disaster management framework and policies, while emphasizing the active role local councils must play in responding effectively to increasingly complex and large-scale disasters.

The final session, on speech techniques for building public trust, introduces proper expression methods covering voice, eye contact and demeanor, and imparts effective communication skills to broaden engagement with residents and strengthen trust, bringing the full program to a close.

Acting Director Park Dae-min of the Local Government Officials Development Institute said he hoped the academy would help local councils gain a broad understanding of the government's policy direction and chart a course for their communities' futures. "We will continue to expand demand-driven education that raises the expertise and policy capacity of local councils and provides practical support for their legislative activities," he said.


thlee@heraldcorp.com