The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education is launching experiential education programs that leverage the characteristics of Busan as a maritime city to cultivate future ocean talent. The initiative aims to enhance maritime accident response capabilities and safety awareness while providing opportunities to explore careers in marine science.
The Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education announced Monday that it will operate the "2026 Future Marine Leader Academy" for middle and high school students and teachers through September.
The academy, to be held at the National Korea Maritime University, will involve a total of 2,550 participants, including 2,500 middle and high school students across 100 teams and 50 teachers. The program will be intensively operated during the summer vacation period in July and August to expand participation opportunities for students.
The curriculum consists of a one-day experiential program that is entirely free of charge, including lunch. Transportation will also be provided for students' convenience.
The flagship programs are water safety education and marine leisure activities. Participating students will gain maritime safety knowledge and practical response skills through hands-on experiences including survival swimming, scuba diving, sailing yachts and rafting.
The city education office expects the program to go beyond simple experiential activities, fostering maritime safety awareness and supporting future career exploration.
Safety management is also a top priority. The office has established a system to prevent safety accidents by deploying qualified safety supervisors and personnel on site and completing insurance enrollment for all participants.
"This academy will provide young people with an opportunity to develop response capabilities for maritime risk situations while exploring careers related to marine science," an official from the city education office said. "We will do our best to nurture future maritime talent that reflects Busan's regional characteristics and to create a safe educational environment."
