Songnam 5th Graders Hold Korea Travel Expo

By Jihyo Kang, Songnam Elementary SchoolThe fifth-grade students at Songnam Elementary School held a Korea travel expo to introduce different regions of Korea.For this fair, students chose different regions of Korea and researched famous tourist attractions, foods, and cultures from each area. They found information, prepared presentations, and organized the unique features of their regions in an easy-to-understand way.At the fair, students introduced their regions through displays and decorated booths. They even prepared booths where classmates could taste specialties from each region. Their classmates visited the booths, learned new things about places they barely knew, and discovered new places they would like to visit.The fair was more than just a research activity. It gave students a chance to find and organize information by themselves and practice presenting it in front of others. They also learned about cooperation and responsibility while preparing the fair with their classmates.Through the Korea travel expo, the fifth graders discovered how many different regions and cultures Korea has. It was a meaningful experience where students could learn new things, share their knowledge, and make enjoyable memories with their friends.

Student and Parents Enjoy a Fun Movie Day

By Chaewon Moon, Gyesung Elementary SchoolA special movie event was held at Youth Cafe Suda Bucks Branch 3 in Dangjin on Saturday, June 27, 2026.The event was for students and their parents. About fifty people joined the event after registering by scanning a QR code or signing up at the venue.Everyone enjoyed free popcorn and drinks while watching ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’. After watching the movie, they took photos at a free photo zone.The movie taught that trust, teamwork, kindness, and helping others are important. It also showed that courage and friendship can make the world a better place.The event gave students and their families a chance to spend a meaningful time together while enjoying a movie. They shared laughter, created happy memories, and enjoyed small moments of happiness during their busy day-to-day lives.We look forward to more enjoyable and meaningful events like this in the future.

The AI generation: Together with humanity

By Ireh Park, Baebang Elementary SchoolBaebang Elementary School opened an AI education center to help students learn about AI in creative and fun ways.AI has become a big part of our lives through social media, news, and technology and is a very important part of our current technology and industries. AI is growing fast and developing in ways that were once thought to be impossible. However with this new technology, students must also learn more about it.This is why Baebang Elementary School opened an AI center for students to learn about AI in entertaining ways. Many education officials from Chungnam came to celebrate this new step for students. The Asan AI Education Center was created at Baebang Elementary School and was completed on the 15th of June, becoming the 14th within the city. One official celebrated, saying that “This center is necessary for the 36,000 students of Asan’s future.” Another official said that education about humanity and economics should go together with AI education.The AI center proves successful, being able to excite students with creative games and robots. It also helps students develop their creativity and learn about present and future technology. More programs for elementary and middle schools will be launched soon.

The Chusa Old House Reopens

By Ha-yeon Lee, Boseong Elementary SchoolThe 240 th anniversary of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui’s birth was celebrated on July 11th. The Chusa Memorial Hall has reopened at Chusa Old House in Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun. Chusa Kim Jeong-hui was a representative scholar of the late Joseon period. He developed Chusa-che. And he drew representative Sehando..The Chusa Memorial Hall is a two storied building. The special exhibition, titled “Chusa Kim Jeong-hui Goes to Liaodong,” has also reopened. This exhibition was organized to explore Chusa’s life, scholarship, and artistic world.The first floor introduces Chusa’s artistic world through his artifacts. There is a permanent exhibition room and a storage room. The permanent exhibition hall displays 39 artifacts related to Chusa and 30 authentic works. Visitors can also see the four-season scenery of Chusa Old House through large-scale media art.The second floor has an experience space, a small lecture room, the Chusa Memorial Room, and a rooftop garden. Above all, visitors can experience Chusa’s calligraphy style, draw Sehando, and make stone rubbings.Through this exhibition, visitors can learn about Chusa Kim Jeong-hui’s life, studies, and artistic values. The Chusa Old House is expected to become a special attraction in Yesan.

“1.2-meter Ball, unlimited teamwork: Yecheon’s Kin-ball Club”

By Tae-Yeon Kim, Seosan Yecheon Elementary SchoolDo you know the strongest elementary Kin-ball team in South Korea?Kin-ball is a cooperative sport in which three teams play at the same time using a very big ball. Surprisingly, a Kin-ball’s ball is 1.2 meters wide, which is very big.The attacking team has three members supporting the ball. Before hitting the ball, the hitter must shout “Omnikin” and the defending team’s color. Before the ball falls, the pointed team receives the ball and continues the attack. What is surprising is that they play with a ball that is 1.2 meters in diameter.Yecheon Elementary School took first place in the city contest this year. The school’s sports club will participate in the Chungcheongnam-do competition later this year. During summer vacation, the sports club has been training hard to get good results in the competition.The Yecheon sports club has always taken first place in the national competition, so let’s expect great results. It appears that the sports team will work even harder in the future and build a very strong team.

How to Start a Day Right! The Power of Morning Activities

By Jinhee Jang, Seosan Yecheon Elementary SchoolSeosan Yecheon Elementary helps students start their day in a fun and meaningful way, with morning activities like reading and exercise before class.Before morning activities, the school is filled with the students’ energy. They play soccer or do other activities of their choice.At 8:30 am students gather in their classrooms and spend time reading books. In the classroom, students read books more than they write. Students can bring their favorite books or read books provided in the classroom. They can also freely borrow books like novels or storybooks.Morning reading is more than just reading books. The school uses mini reading journals to help students understand the content deeply. Students write memorable passages, feelings, and thoughts in the mini reading journals. Students complete their monthly reading goal and give their mini journals to the teacher. This helps them build consistent reading habits and improve their writing skills.In this way, the school values students’ morning activities. It is not just a simple routine. Reading books and exercising are important activities that help students grow. Through these meaningful mornings, many students can have fun and enjoy whatever they decide to do in the morning. They can start their day with energy every day.

Helping Students Find Their Dreams

By Kim Haeun, Naepo Elementary SchoolThese days, many students do not have a dream. According to a Ministry of Education survey of students’ desired occupations, most students who said they had no desired occupation responded with, “I still don’t really know what I like.” Also, having no dreams can be caused not just by a lack of enthusiasm, but also by a lack of experience and information. For this reason, students don’t know what careers they want.Naepo Elementary School visited the Career Convergence Center with sixth-grade students to help them think about their careers. The Career Convergence Center is a place where students can think deeply about the kind of career they might desire. Students may explore a range of fields including agriculture, future mobility, life, earth, convergence, sports, forensic science, and data.This field trip took place from July 15th to July 16th over two days. First, in the future mobility class, students learned about the possibilities of innovative changes in future transportation and participated in a transportation activity. Second, in the life science class, students learned about telemedicine, diabetes, and hypertension. They also role-played doctors and patients. Third, in the forensic science class, students learned about the importance of science and technology and took part in activities to collect evidence.The purpose of this field trip was to give students a chance to think about their future. Like Naepo Elementary School, schools and families should give students many chances to consider their future.

Welcome Back to the Green Gyeryong Library!

By Ji-Min Han, Yongnam Elementary SchoolGyeryong Library reopened after a green renovation. It gave citizens an eco-friendly reading area.After a long wait, Gyeryong Library reopened on July 8th. The library was closed from March 2025 for a green renovation. A green renovation is a project that makes old buildings more energy-efficient, safer, and more comfortable.The library looked very different after the renovation. The old facilities were replaced with new ones, making the library more comfortable to use. The library became an eco-friendly space. After the green renovation, it uses less energy and has reduced heat loss. A poster about the green renovation on the first floor stated that the library reduced energy use by 47.3%, making it eco-friendly.It rained heavily on the day of the grand reopening. However, the library was full of citizens who had been waiting for it to reopen. The library was full of people reading and checking out books. Everyone had a wonderful time in the clean and comfortable library. We hope that many more people will visit Gyeryong Library and enjoy reading in the future.

The Amazing Summer Scenery of Gyeryong Mountain

By Seol Lee, Yongnam Elementary SchoolHave you ever seen the summer scenery of Gyeryong Mountain? In summer, plants grow lush, and animals are more active than in other seasons.Gyeryong Mountain is located in Gongju, Gyeryong, and Yuseong. It is Korea’s second national park. There are some special features of Gyeryong Mountain. First, it has a temple called Donghaksa. This temple is located on the eastern side of Gyeryong Mountain. Tourists visit the temple to see the beautiful surrounding views. In summer, you can see more beautiful scenery than in other seasons. The second temple is Sinwonsa. It is located on the southern side of Gyeryong Mountain, and many people visit the temple to feel calm. Records show that this place dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. The last temple is Gapsa. It is one of the most famous temples on Gyeryong Mountain, along with Donghaksa. It is the oldest temple on Gyeryong Mountain. Gapsa has a nice scenic road as well as a nice forest trail. Therefore, many tourists visit this temple.Next, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Gyeryong Mountain. The first thing to see is a beautiful, dense forest. In summer, lush trees and plants make the forest look very green. Second, Gyeryong Mountain’s valley streams are famous for their clean water. Finally, Gyeryong Mountain was designated as a natural park, so it is more famous than other mountains for having many animals. There are many animals living on the mountain, such as leopard cats and yellow-throated martens. They live in the valley below Cheonhwangbong, the highest peak of Gyeryong Mountain. Maybe you can imagine the vibrant wildlife of Gyeryong Mountain. We should do our best to protect nature and live with these animals and plants. How about visiting Gyeryong Mountain this summer?

Getting to Know the Environment Through Eco-Friendly Farming

By Chae-Eun Sin, Seohae Sahmyook Elementary SchoolOn June 11th, Seohae Sahmyook Elementary School held a special environmental education program called "Eco-Friendly Seedling Planting Experience”.Students had a meaningful time learning about protecting the environment through farming. They took part in special farming activities to plant seedlings and crops, and learned how to take care of them and how crops grow. The best part was that it was a hands-on experience, allowing students to see everything up close and do things themselves. It was a fun and interactive way to learn about sustainable farming.An expert taught the students how to take care of the Earth. They learned how to grow small plants, plant vegetables, and use eco-friendly farming methods. They also learned how to use farming tools safely. Through these activities, the students understood why it is important to protect the Earth and take care of nature.The students planted small seedlings in pots and moved them to bigger boxes so they could grow well. They also made the soil better by adding shrimp shells, which can be used as a natural fertilizer. The students learned that natural materials help plants grow. They will keep taking care of the plants at school. They will pull out weeds and watch the plants grow. Through these experiences, the students will learn more about protecting the environment.This eco-friendly farming experience gave students a chance to understand the importance of protecting nature, appreciate agriculture, and develop a sense of responsibility for the environment.

Warm Hearts Made by Small Coins

By Min-Joo Son, Onyang Punggi Elementary SchoolOnyang Punggi Elementary School will hold the "Hope Coin Donation" event for all students from July to September 2026.Students will collect their spare coins in the donation box given by the school and bring the box back to school. The money will be sent to the Chungcheongnam-do Community Chest of Korea. The money will help students from low-income families with daily living and medical costs.This event is meaningful because even a small action can make a big difference. A single coin may not seem very valuable, but when many people give with kind hearts, those coins can become a big help for students in need.Through this activity, students will learn that sharing is not something only special people can do. Everyone can practice kindness in daily life. The school encourages interested students to participate in the event. Participation will not affect students’ grades or evaluations.It is hoped that this "Hope Coin Donation" event will help students experience the joy of sharing, learn the importance of caring others, and help build a warm community.

The 3rd Chungnam Student AI Creativity Festival

By Seung-Hyun Lim, YeonHaw Elementary SchoolOn Saturday, June 13th Sun Moon University held the 3rd Chungnam Student AI Creativity Festival. A lot of students had a lot of fun in the competition.There were about 400 students, but some of them didn’t come. It was divided into elementary, middle, and high school levels. Students were divided according to their grade level. During the festival, parents waited outside the gym.Most of the students had a lot of fun. On the other hand, some students had a hard time because it was so hard to solve the problem. So, how were the points calculated? Points were calculated by how fast students solved the problems. Students who solved the problems faster got more points. If they solved a problem incorrectly, they lost one point.At the Chungnam Student AI Creativity Festival, the staff gave students sandwiches, juice, and snacks. The snacks gave the students energy to solve the problems. That festival gave the students a good chance to join the competition. It was a memory that the students will never forget!

Enjoy Summer Camp! Enjoy English!

By Na-Hyeon Kim, Seohae Sahmyook Elementary SchoolAs the season of summer arrives, Seohae Sahmyook Elementary School is hosting the “English Summer Camp” once again. With this camp, the school will encourage students to engage with English more easily with a variety of activities.Just as it did last year, the English Summer Camp starts right after the first semester ends. This year, the camp lasts for five weekdays, from July 20th to July 24th. During this period, the students have fun talking and learning new things with seven different native English teachers.During the camp, students are divided into different classes by grades. All of the classes participate in different activities with different native English teachers each day. Every morning, students learn new things and enjoy many activities such as arts and crafts, team games, dancing, interesting English challenges, and mini English Olympics. By taking part in these activities, the students enjoy coming to the camp every day. The school is happy about these reactions because the school thinks that camp is for fun.For many years, Seohae Sahmyook Elementary School has held many English camps during the vacations such as the English Summer Camp. As a student, joining these camps is a great way to spend the summer vacation meaningfully. Classes are different from normal English classes and they are different because the classes are more interesting and diverse. The school is offering a great opportunity for the students by hosting these camps. The school will continue to host many English camps for the students’ English education and enjoyment.

Broken door in Cheonan Buldang Elementary School

By You-Joon Ko, Cheonan Buldang Elementary SchoolOn May 24th, a glass door at Cheonan Buldang Elementary School was brokenHow did the glass door break? A student kicked a rock. The student was from another school and visited Cheonan Buldang Elementary School to play with a friend. The rock hit the glass door, and the glass broke. Many students saw the broken door. The student did not run away. Instead, the student told the security guard what happened. The school paid to fix the door.Some students were scared, but others laughed. After the accident, the principal asked students from other schools not to come and play at the school.Luckily, no one was hurt. But even a small action can cause an accident. Everyone should be careful. This accident shows that everyone should be careful. We hope this will not happen again.

August 15th became “Independence Day of Korea”

By Min-joo Park Ssangjeong Elementary School"Have you ever heard the sacrifices of independence activists who forsake one’s own body to become independent in Japan"During the Japanese colonial, there were many sacrifices of independence activists, who wanted to get Korea back. On August 15th, 1945, all of their effort and dreams came true and we finally took our country back 36 years after Japanese Colonial rule began. To commemorate this historic day, August 15th was designated as National Liberation Day of Korea.To commemorate the “Independence Day of Korea”, you can watch a play titled “Spy List” which told the story of finding a spy who was transmitting the secret of an insurrection that was planning in provisional government for Korea. After watching this play, people were given an opportunity to reflect. How hard it was for independence activists to carry out their work during the Japanese colonial era era! So how should we descendants honor the independence activists? We can do so by raising the Korean flag on Independence Day of Korea, learning about our history, and visiting history Museums are meaningful ways to remember independence activists.The Independence Day of Korea is our precious historical day, and a day that reminds us think about the value of freedom. Our freedom is someone’s courage and sacrifice. So let us all remember the Independence Day of Korea!

Dangjin Kkulbeol(Honeybee) Library - the Reading Playground for the Whole Family!

By So-I Ahn, Dangjin Tabdong Elementary schoolThe Kkulbeol(Honeybee) Library of the Dangjin Office of Education in Chungcheongnam-do opened on June 9th, 2026. The library was a highly anticipated space where everyone, from young children to adults, can enjoy reading.Upon entering the Kkulbeol library, big honeybee balloon dolls welcomed visitors. These cute balloon dolls were made to represent the library’s special atmosphere, and to captivate children’s attention. The Kkulbeol library was divided into first and second floors, and had various reading spaces for different age groups. On the first floor, there is the Agibeol Noliteo, Chorokbeoltteul, Kkulmarue, Dalcomshimteo, and on the second floor, there were Naraetteul, Beoljipseojae, Wingwingbaumteo.The main space on the first floor was ‘Agibeol Noliteo’ (The Baby Bee Playground) which is a special room for young kids to have fun reading books. There were comfortable chairs and a screen for playing audio-visual books, allowing kids to read while parents spend some good time with their children. In ‘Chorokbeoltteul’ (The Green Bee Yard), people can read books in a variety of fields such as literature, art, and language for children.'Naraetteul’ (The Wing Garden) on the second floor is a reading space for teenagers with many different books. Next to it, 'Beoljipseojae’ (Beehive Study) offers a quiet place for individual work and reading deeper books.I interviewed some students who visited the library. A second-grade student said, “I had a fun experience because I read a book comfortably inside the tent at the Kkulbeol Library.” A fifth-grade student said “I want to come back to Kkulbeol Library because the library has many places and things to do for young kids.” The library official said “We hope the Kkulbeol Library becomes a comfortable place where people can drop by without feeling pressured to read.”I look forward to seeing Kkulbeol Library become a beloved ‘family reading playground’ where everyone, from young children to adults, can visit easily and enjoy reading.

Tracing the Footsteps of History: From Hongseong to China

By Jiho Lee, Sindang Elementory SchoolHongseong Office of Education hosted a Korean-Chinese History and Culture Tour from August 6 to August 12, taking 32 sixth-grade and seventh-grade students through nine regions in China: Tonghua, Ji'an, Erdaobaihe, Longjing, Tumen, Hailin, Shanxi, Mudanjiang, and Harbin.I applied for this historical program to experience firsthand the history I had only ever read about in textbooks, and I was fortunate enough to be selected.In Tonghua region, we visited the Jilin Provincial Museum, where we saw Goguryeo artifacts that are rare to find in Korea today. In Ji'an, we saw the Gwanggaeto Stele and the Tomb of the General (Janggunchong). Seeing them in person, we were so overwhelmed by their presence that the scorching heat and exhaustion from the journey completely faded away, leaving me standing before them for a long time. In Erdaobaihe, our itinerary also included a trip to Mount Baekdu—a place where people said you need three generations of good karma to get a clear view. Luckily, the weather was on our side, offering us a crystal-clear view of Heaven Lake (Cheonji) and even a glimpse across the border into North Korea. In Longjing, we visited Yun Dong-ju's birthplace and the historic site of Myeongdong School. Reading Yun Dong-ju's poem Prologue out loud in front of our group at his birthplace filled me with deep emotion.As we traveled across Longjing, Tumen, Mudanjiang, Hailin, and Shanxi, we visited key historical places such as the Battle of Bongo-dong battlefield and the places where General Kim Chwa-chin passed away.In Harbin, our final destination, seeing the grim traces of Unit 731 made the atrocities feel vividly present rather than trapped in the past, leaving me both deeply saddened and angered. At Harbin Railway Station, my group members and I re-enacted An Jung-geun's assassination of Ito Hirobumi, which was a truly meaningful moment for all of Korean.Tracing the footsteps of our national history while trying Chinese food and experiencing local culture was fascinating. At the same time, it left me with a sense of regret that so much of our heritage and history can now only be seen by traveling to China.I am immensely grateful to the Hongseong Office of Education for providing this opportunity to experience history so vividly. It served as a moving reminder that our country exists today thanks to the sacrifices of countless independence activists, and that we must live each day with heartfelt gratitude.

“Water Outage in Taean and Saving Energy”

By Chae-Won Lee, Cheonan Areum Elementary SchoolEvery summer, many people visit the beach to cool off. Taean is one of the easiest seaside cities for people living in Cheonan. Famous for mudflat activities and surfing, Taean’s coastline is a major hotspot that draws in countless visitors. To attract visitors and make their stay comfortable, Taean set up free shower facilities in various places. However, due to the recent prolonged heatwave and a sharp increase in water usage, a sudden water outage occurred, causing inconvenience to both residents and visitors.After playing on the beach, people had to shower off the water and sand, but showering became impossible because of the sudden water cutoff. Some people washed off quickly with water bought at the convenience store, but soon there was not enough water left to buy. What made things worse was that there was no water even in the bathroom. Due to the unannounced shortage, residents were also unable to secure in advance the household water needed for meals, washing, and cleaning. Some restaurants and accommodation also closed due to the sudden water shortage or provided partial refunds.For Taean residents, who rely heavily on tourism, the busy summer peak season is crucial. However, the sudden water cutoff severely damaged local businesses. The Taean Waterwork office said that although water continued to be supplied from the Boryeong Dam, the water level in the tanks had been dropping too quickly due to increased usage. This is what caused the temporary stop in order to refill the tanks. Sudden water cut-offs can ruin the summer vacation and also cause inconvenience to local residents’ daily lives. It is cases like this, where there is no prior warning, that cause confusion for people.South Korea is classified as a "water-scarce country" according to the PAI(Personality Assessment Inventory) standards. Due to the small land area, high population density, and concentrated summer rainfall, there is a shortage of water resources that can actually be used. In the future, measures must be prepared to ensure stable water supply for periods of high water demand.In the summer, even the power demand gets higher. Due to the summer heatwaves and typhoon surges, the government is enacting measures to secure power supply during the summer season. Because the government is responding proactively in this way, citizens can live stably even when electricity demand surges. This Taean water outage also showed that urgent measures would be needed to ensure a stable water supply.Even with the government’s effort, individual efforts are needed. Here are some ways we can practice in our daily lives: first, when applying soap during a shower, you should turn off the water. This small action could even save 10L~15L of water.Second, use a cup when brushing your teeth. Leaving the tab running wastes up to 10L, but using a cup reduces it to around 1L.Third, gather the laundry and wash it all at once. Washing small loads of laundry frequently wastes water and electricity.Experiencing the water outage myself this time was extremely inconvenient. Not only was it difficult to wash off the sticky seawater, but even the water purifier at our accommodation was not working, which had surprised us.After using the restroom, there were also difficulties due to the toilets not flushing. Through this experience, I truly realized how precious water is.

Just Add Water: How Seongnam Stayed Cool

By: Hyun Kyung Lee, Seongnam Elementary SchoolHow do you have fun in this muggy summer season? Our school has a wonderful idea. Just Add Water! said our principal.A week before our summer break, our teachers told us to bring swimming wear and water guns. While our school had several summer activities before, it was the first time we had seen our schoolyard covered with huge inflatable pools and slides. The students were all very excited to swim and play!The Good Side vs. The Damp Side:But As with any major event, a water play day comes with both good and challenging moments.The best part: all students had a chance to play together which is very hard to achieve when conducting normal class activity. This allows us to relax and take a break from the extreme heat. Ultimately, this program also helped us enjoy summer at school and make wonderful memories. The Damp Side: there are so many soggy clothes and sneakers! On top of this, we have to clean the mud tracks in the hallway left by younger students.All the minor inconveniences of wet shoes and a wet floor are just a drop in the ocean. As the pools were starting to deflate, we couldn’t stop talking about how fun this day was.