[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]
[Provided by North Gyeongsang Province]

North Gyeongsang Province held a ceremony Friday at the plaza of the Dosanseowon Seonbi Culture Training Center in Andong to mark the facility's 25th anniversary.

About 300 people attended, including North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Dosanseowon Seonbi Culture Training Center Chairman Kim Byong-il, board members and representatives of Confucian organizations. The gathering reviewed the center's achievements and discussed directions for future development.

The event opened with a traditional ritual reporting the 25th anniversary to the spirit of Joseon-era scholar Toegye Yi Hwang, followed by a commemorative video screening, the presentation of appreciation plaques, the dedication of a commemorative white paper and an announcement of development plans.

A commemorative lecture on the theme "Toegye and Us, and the Dosansibigok" followed, along with a group performance of the Dosansibigok — a set of classical Korean verses — by the Andong MBC Children's Choir.

The training center was founded in November 2001, when training facilities were in short supply, through the volunteer efforts of retired education leaders.

Building on the seonbi spirit of Toegye, the center expanded its character education programs and has since produced a cumulative total of about 1.9 million trainees — including students, teachers, public officials, business people, military personnel and foreign nationals — growing into a hub for character education.

Kim, a former minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, has remained at the center since 2008, dedicating himself to nurturing future generations despite repeated calls from the central government to take on other roles.

The center currently operates a range of programs, including the Toegye Humanities Academy, a school violence prevention and guidance program, a Dosanseowon study course and guided interpretive tours of Dosanseowon.

The center also maintains academic exchanges with China's White Deer Grotto Academy and holds cultural events including a reenactment of Toegye's final journey home, sustaining humanities exchanges and cultural activities both at home and abroad.

"Building on the achievements made so far, I hope the center will grow beyond a simple education facility into a leading institution where people can learn proper character and humanistic values and truly internalize the life and spirit of Toegye," Governor Lee said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com