The Public — Reporter Oh Hong-ji: Kim Hak-kwan, the Democratic Party's candidate for mayor of Cheongju, unveiled a policy called \"Cheongju AI-Connect\" that centers on AI-based lifelong learning and closing the digital divide.
On March 17, Kim issued a news release announcing his \"Blue Hope No. 2\" pledge. He said the plan aims to build a city where all residents can learn and grow together during the AI transformation.
The pledge is designed to respond to the rapid spread of AI across industry, government and education, and to narrow digital gaps across generations and income levels.
It focuses on addressing a shortfall in current education policy, which has remained student-centered and underemphasized digital skills training for adults.
Kim proposed an \"AI Lifelong Education Voucher\" that would provide 350,000 KRW per year (about $263) in tuition support to digitally vulnerable groups, including basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households, people with disabilities and older adults.
The voucher would allow residents to choose courses in AI, smartphone use and job training so they can pursue learning on their own terms.
He also plans to establish \"AI Digital Care Centers\" based at welfare centers to serve as local training hubs where people can easily learn everyday digital skills such as smartphone use, kiosks and online banking.
At senior centers, Kim would introduce AI companion services and health monitoring systems to strengthen support for older residents.
He will run an \"AI-Connect Supporters\" program to train young people as digital instructors. Those supporters would bring education directly to rural areas and welfare facilities to reduce regional and generational digital disparities.
Kim said, \"Technology should be a ladder of growth that connects people, not something that isolates them. I will build a warm, digital Cheongju where no one is left out of learning.\"
