‘Language A Human Right.’- A New Frontier; the Public-Private-Academic Alliance for Linguistic Welfare in Jeju
· Writer : 제주대학교 ·Date : 2026-01-16 16:21:37 ·View : 101
On December 17, the JNU Language Therapy Convergence Track and the tentative Jeju National University Language Cognitive Rehabilitation Center Preparatory Committee hosted an Academic Symposium titled "Improving Language Welfare for Linguistically Vulnerable Groups in Jeju." The symposium was organized by the JNU RISE Project Group.
In their welcoming and congratulatory remarks, Kim Eel-hwan, President of Jeju National University, and Jin Hee-jong, President of the Jeju Institute of Lifelong Education Promotion, both emphasized that collaboration between universities and local communities is crucial for overcoming challenges facing the region and for nurturing future talent. They also highlighted the symposium's importance as a valuable forum to discuss regional issues.
This symposium transcended a mere academic event; it marked a paradigm shift in Jeju's educational welfare. Participants from academia, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Council, the Jeju Office of Education, and various field experts reached a profound consensus: developmental delays in linguistically vulnerable groups, including children from immigrant families, should no longer be viewed as individual learning difficulties. Instead, these issues must be recognized as a fundamental "human right."
The participants defined language as "the root of forming the social self and an essential tool for survival." They strongly emphasized that support policies should evolve beyond simple charity-like initiatives and be established as "language welfare"—a right everyone should enjoy.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Council Education Committee Member Kang Dong-woo and Jeju Provincial Office of Education Secretary Lee Soo-mi, who participated in the discussion that day, fully concurred with this problem recognition. They pledged to explore avenues for enacting relevant ordinances and providing active administrative support.
JNU further responded by committing to spearhead the establishment of a "virtuous cycle": training local talent as professional speech therapists who, in turn, will contribute their expertise back to the local community.
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