Gyeongju launches permanent AI education program for residents

Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is converting its AI education offerings — previously run as standalone courses — into a permanent, structured program open to all residents.

The city held an unveiling ceremony for the "Gyeongju Citizens' AI School" Thursday at the plaza in front of the Gyeongju Smart Media Center, marking the program's official launch.

The event, organized by the Gyeongju Smart Media Center Foundation, drew about 50 people, including students, guests and advisory committee members.

The school formalizes AI education the center has been offering this year and is part of the city's eighth-term elected administration's campaign pledge action plan.

The program runs five tracks: a general AI lecture series for residents, a mobile AI classroom, a creative AI application academy, employment and startup training, and an executive course.

Of these, the mobile AI classroom and the creative AI application academy are already running this year, while the general lecture series, employment and startup training, and executive course are set to launch next year.

The creative AI application academy has been organized into 56 sessions this year, with 182 participants having completed the course so far.

The mobile AI classroom visits senior centers and community halls in towns and villages, offering free sessions to groups of 10 or more. The city aims to hold at least 18 sessions this year, reaching more than 180 participants.

At the ceremony, nine advisory committee members received appointment certificates. They will advise on curriculum planning and overall program operations through Sept. 16 next year.

The center plans to publicly recruit a pool of around 30 instructors through Oct. 16, run a pilot citizens' forum on Monday and trial lecture sessions from October through December, and finalize a Gyeongju-tailored AI utilization roadmap by year's end.

Kim Jang-ju, director of the center, said the program would "link the five tracks step by step and reflect feedback from the field to deliver AI education that residents can truly feel the benefit of."

Gyeongju Mayor Ju Nak-young said the city would "lower the barrier so that any resident can learn AI close to home and apply it to their daily lives and work," adding that he aims to build "a city where learning drives innovation in work and industry."