The district has earned the 'excellent' designation for the second time, following its first in 2020, after being named a lifelong learning city in 2012. High marks went to its neighborhood learning centers across all 16 dong and a nationally first-of-its-kind adult learning assessment tool.
Eunpyeong-gu has become the first autonomous district in Seoul to receive the "excellent lifelong learning city" designation two consecutive times, earning the honor again in the 2026 Lifelong Learning City Evaluation and Certification.
Since being designated a lifelong learning city in 2012, the district has consistently pursued policies tailored to local characteristics and residents' learning needs. As a result, it earned the "excellent" designation for the first time in 2020 and has now been recognized again this year.
In the evaluation, administered by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education, the district received high marks for establishing a learning center in each of its 16 dong to broaden residents' access to education and participation. It was also recognized for offering programs aligned with advances in AI and digital technology and changes in the employment landscape.
Particularly praised were the district's use of a nationally first-of-its-kind adult learning assessment tool to provide personalized learning counseling and link residents to relevant curricula, as well as its performance management system — centered on lifelong learning volunteers — that channels learning outcomes into community service, employment and entrepreneurship.
The recognition extends Eunpyeong-gu's streak of achievements in lifelong education to three consecutive years, following the 2024 UNESCO Learning City Award and the grand prize in the project category at the 2025 Korea Lifelong Learning Awards for its "Eunpyeong 1-dong 1-university" initiative.
Building on the evaluation results, the district plans to expand learning opportunities for residents at life transitions and to more actively promote its programs to those at risk of being left out. It also intends to increase neighborhood learning spaces so that more residents can participate in lifelong learning.
"Being named an excellent lifelong learning city again, following 2020, reflects how firmly Eunpyeong's lifelong learning policies have taken root in residents' daily lives," District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said. "Going forward, we will build a sustainable lifelong learning city where residents' learning goes beyond personal growth to drive change in the community."
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