The 'Character Education Revitalization Research Group' (headed by Councilman Bang Han-il) of the Chungnam Provincial Council held its launching ceremony and first meeting on the 21st in meeting room 303 of the Provincial Council. The group will promote the development of physical activity models for cultivating students' character and pursue research services for related support policies.

This research group was established to address social issues such as weakened community spirit and increased school violence following the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aims to explore ways to revitalize character education through physical activities to foster moral values that have become increasingly important in the AI era.

Councilman Bang Han-il (Education Committee, Chungnam Provincial Council) will serve as the representative, and Kim Moon-soo, an education superintendent from the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education's Civic Education Department, will serve as the secretary. The group comprises a total of 11 members, including Councilors Lee Sang-geun (Hongseong 1, People Power Party), Kim Eung-gyu (Asan 2, People Power Party), and Yoo Seong-jae (Cheonan 5, People Power Party), as well as Choi Pil-hwan, Head of Higher Education Policy at Chungnam Provincial Government; Kwon Seon-tak, Head of the Civic Education Department at the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education; Song Ho-jin, Secretary-General of the Chungnam School Operation Council; Jang Mi-kyung, Professor at Namseoul University; Park Jeong-eon, Head of the Korean Confucian Culture Promotion Institute; and Lee Ju-cheol, a teacher at Naepo Elementary School.

During the meeting, they shared the budget and major project status of character education in Chungnam Province and the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education for 2025. Professor Jang Mi-kyung of Namseoul University presented the implementation plan for the research service on 'Physical Activity Models and Support Policies for Cultivating Students' Character.' The research service aims to cultivate core character traits such as cooperation, respect, responsibility, and empathy through physical activities. It will involve analyzing domestic and international cases, conducting surveys of teachers and students, and developing policy models.

Furthermore, the research group plans to develop practical policy measures tailored to the Chungnam context, including character education programs linking schools and the local community, teacher training to enhance their capabilities, and the discovery and dissemination of best practices in character education. In particular, they will also explore policy and institutional support measures for the effective establishment and spread of character education based on physical activities.

Councilman Bang Han-il stated, "Various educational approaches, including physical activities, are necessary to cultivate the core character demanded by the AI era and future society. I hope this research group will become a new milestone in Chungnam's character education policy."

The research group will continue to gather field opinions and promote policy proposals until the end of this year, starting with this meeting.

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