"Current Social Issues Enter the Classroom"... Ministry of Education to Launch Democratic Citizenship Education Initiative
by Kim Bokyung
Published 30 Jan.2026 13:30(KST)
Updated 02 Feb.2026 09:37(KST)
Ministry of Education Announces Plan for Democratic Citizenship Education
Collaboration with Relevant Agencies to Enhance Constitutional and Democracy Education
Plans to Enact the "School Democratic Citizenship Education Act"
The government is set to promote "democratic citizenship education," which aims to instill constitutional values in students and teach them about democratic decision-making processes. Discussion-based classes on current social issues are also expected to become more prevalent. In addition, student-led activities that allow students to experience democratic decision-making firsthand will be strengthened.
On January 30, the Ministry of Education announced this plan for democratic citizenship education, stating, "We will provide substantial support for constitutional and democracy education through close collaboration with relevant institutions, so that students can internalize constitutional values."
First, constitutional education in schools is expected to be enhanced. The goal is to help students understand the values and principles of the Constitution and apply them in their daily lives. To achieve this, the Ministry will sign business agreements with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Government Legislation, and the Constitutional Research Institute to expand constitutional education for both students and teachers.
The Ministry will also collaborate with the National Election Commission to provide tailored election education. To counter fake news and confirmation bias, digital media literacy education will be promoted to help students critically understand information and use it responsibly.
Other initiatives include: ▲ climate change and ecological transition education for a sustainable society ▲ global citizenship education to counter discrimination and hate ▲ economic, financial, and labor education closely related to everyday life ▲ and peace and unification education to reflect on the meaning of peace on the Korean Peninsula. These will be pursued in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Additionally, teaching and learning principles will be established to ensure that teachers respect constitutional values and conduct discussion- and debate-centered classes. These principles are expected to include: ▲ respect for constitutional values ▲ promotion of discussion and debate on social issues ▲ connecting students' lives with current social issues ▲ and prohibition of coercive indoctrination.
Furthermore, the Ministry plans to designate and operate 150 "democratic citizenship education leading schools" this year, where constitutional education will be mandatory and student and school autonomy will be encouraged.
Institutional improvements will also be made to strengthen student participation in school autonomy. The Ministry plans to explicitly stipulate the basis for student council organizations so that students can experience democratic decision-making and problem-solving processes. Within this year, Article 17 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will be amended to formalize student councils and strengthen their participation in school management committees.
For example, students will be able to propose agenda items to the school management committee, attend meetings as observers, and gather preliminary opinions through class meetings and other activities.
Finally, the Ministry will establish an institutional foundation to ensure the stable operation of democratic citizenship education within the public education system. Plans are in place to enact the "School Democratic Citizenship Education Act" and to implement policies in cooperation with relevant institutions.
The Ministry will also develop and analyze democratic citizenship competency indicators to measure the effects of promoting democratic citizenship education and assess policy outcomes.
Kyojin Choi, Minister of Education, stated, "We will continue to strengthen democratic citizenship education so that every student can grow into a democratic citizen equipped with critical thinking and collaborative communication skills through constitutional values."
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