The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was born on 16 November 1945. UNESCO has 195 Members and 8 Associate Members and is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board. The Secretariat, headed by the Director-General, implements the decisions of these two bodies. The Organization has more th 50 field offices around the world and its headquarters are located in Paris. UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities.
The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea is a central administrative body of the Korean government responsible for establishing and managing the nation's educational policies. The ministry oversees policies in various educational fields, including early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, higher education, and lifelong learning. It aims to promote the development of the education system and improve the educational environment. The Ministry is committed to ensuring fairness and equity in education while fostering creative and interdisciplinary talents for the future. To achieve this, it implements policies such as curriculum revisions, support for schools, educational infrastructure expansion, teacher capacity enhancement, and educational welfare. These efforts provide all students with equal learning opportunities and help them reach their full potential.
The Gyeonggido Office of Education (GOE) is a regional education administrative organization responsible for all matters related to education in Gyeonggi-do. The GOE has 25 district offices of education in the Gyeonggi-do and 36 direct institutes, including training centers, educational centers, experience centers, and libraries. The GOE is the largest education office in Korea, with more than a third of the country's students, teachers and schools. Gyeonggi-do has one of the most dynamic and diverse educational environments and resources in Korea, with a mix of urban and rural areas, world heritage sites and high-tech industrial cities, and the largest multicultural students. Leading the way in education in South Korea, the GOE has a vision of "New Gyeonggi Education, the Center of Future Education" and supports all students to cultivate future talents with good character and fundamental competence under the value of "Autonomy, Balance, and Future."
UNESCO is the only UN organization that has a system of National Commissions under its Constitution to promote related activities within Member States. The 199 National Commissions worldwide cooperate with bodies relevant to UNESCO’s work, such as national and local governments and civil society organizations, to provide information and advice on UNESCO activities in their countries, as well as to carry out national, regional, and international programmes.
Since its establishment in 1954, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) has carried out a wide variety of domestic and international projects in the many fields of UNESCO’s competence. As one of the largest and most active National Commissions, KNCU is regarded as a model for other National Commissions.
