Tokyo assembly members, Japanese high schoolers and a German choir among the visitors; humanoid robot 'Neo' draws strong response
Gwangjin-gu hosted more than 80 visitors from Japan and Germany at its Future Technology Experience Center, offering hands-on programs with cutting-edge technology as a platform for international exchange.
On Wednesday, 11 members of a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly delegation visiting South Korea were joined by 15 students and staff from Meisei High School, affiliated with Sendai University. On Thursday, about 60 members and staff of the Hanover Girls' Choir from Germany visited the center.
The Tokyo assembly delegation toured the center as part of a schedule that included visits to the Seoul Metropolitan Council and Gwangjin-gu Office, examining AI and robotics education facilities and their operating programs. The Japanese high school students, who visited the same day, broadened their exchange by experiencing both traditional Korean culture and advanced technology.
The Hanover Girls' Choir had held a joint international concert with the Gwangjin District Youth Choir on Wednesday before visiting the center Thursday, extending their musical exchange into the realm of future technology.
Visitors tried out a range of technologies including humanoid robots, drones, autonomous driving systems and AI. A program allowing guests to observe and interact with "Neo," a recently introduced humanoid robot, drew a particularly strong response.
The Gwangjin Future Technology Experience Center, located at 402 Achasan-ro and opened in December last year, spans 1,585 square meters — the largest fourth-industrial-revolution education facility operated by any autonomous district in Seoul. It offers hands-on experiences with AI, robotics, virtual reality and autonomous driving, along with educational programs for all ages from children to adults.
International delegations have continued to visit since the center opened. Last April, about 40 civil servants and officials from eight countries including China, Japan and Germany came as part of a foreign local government officials training program organized by the Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Governors of Korea, exploring the center's advanced technology exhibits and Gwangjin-gu's future education model.
Further details on using the center are available on its official website or by phone.
Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said he hoped the visit would serve as an opportunity for mutual communication and understanding through future technology. "We will continue to run our programs with substance so that visitors from home and abroad can experience advanced technology easily and engagingly, and we will work to expand opportunities for exchange," Kim said.
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