Gyeongbuk Office of Education breaks ground on Dokdo Education Center

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education has officially commenced construction of the Dokdo Education Center on Ulleungdo Island. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on October 24, coincided with celebrations for the 126th anniversary of the Korean Empire's Imperial Decree No. 41, a historical document establishing administrative jurisdiction over Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

The new center aims to shift Dokdo education from classroom-based theory to field-oriented experiential learning. By establishing a base on Ulleungdo, the office intends to provide a stable educational hub that allows students to observe the island's history and natural environment firsthand, mitigating the difficulties of accessing Dokdo due to unpredictable weather and sea conditions.

In conjunction with this physical expansion, the office reported that its online platform, the Cyber Dokdo School, has surpassed 3.09 million cumulative visitors and 32,400 course completions. The education office plans to integrate the new physical center with digital content, such as augmented reality (AR) features and metaverse services, to create a continuous, year-round educational ecosystem.