On November 24, 2013, a well-attended event at Seoul National University in South Korea called the Creativity and Integrity Brain Education Outstanding Example Conference (English translation) accompanied the launch of the Youth Mental Health Character-Building Association. This association aims to promote Brain Education as alternative education and to restore mental health in the youth of Korea.
The event was attended by a former Korean prime minister and many other public officials as well as other figures renowned in their respective fields, including education, science, and medicine, and Brain Education instructors from around South Korea. It came on the tail of four Youth Mental Health Symposiums held this fall in Seoul, Daegu, Incheon Kyunggi, and Cheongju.
At this event, those in attendance took initiatives to actualize “education imbued with the Hongik spirit” as stated as a goal in the Basic Education Act of the Republic of Korea. The Hongik spirit is the traditional spirit of the Korean people that emphasizes personal integrity and the passive and active consideration of the benefit of all. This spirit is also a major concept in Ilchi Lee’s philosophy and methods, including Brain Education.
Ilchi Lee gave a speech at the event that emphasized that the key to youth character building lies in the brain. In his speech he also said:
“When I was young, I was not a good student. I didn’t study well. I couldn’t focus well, and I was a misfit. But when I started having conversations with my [true] self, I discovered my own precious value. When I knew about my value, I could be able to have hope. There is nothing more important than knowing one’s own value.
The current educational system of Korea focuses on acquiring knowledge, not developing the character of students. Students learn a lot about mathematics, physics, and chemistry, etc., in school, but not much about their own value.
We need to teach them how to discover their own value, and how great they are regardless their school grades. Brain Education is a solution for that. Brain Education is a new, alternative education for building character. If our students know about their brain well and use it well, they can choose and create what they want as the owner of their own brain.
The key to character-building education is to know their own value. And Brain Education can help make that happen. The reason I launched the Youth Mental Health Character-Building Association is to make real, positive changes in character-building education through Brain Education.
Every caterpillar has its beautiful wings inside. Our children have beautiful wings inside. We need to let them know they do. We need to help them know they can soar with their dreams. I hope the Youth Mental Health Character-Building Association can give the gift of a dream of a butterfly—the true value of themselves—to our children.”
The conference and the new association indicate Brain Education’s helpful influence on the lives of youth, which has also been exemplified in the results of Brain Education programs in schools in South Korea. Students participating in these programs have demonstrated improved attendance, focus, academic performance, character, and positive and cooperative attitudes.
Brain Education is currently taught to children and adults in for-profit and non-profit centers, schools, and community locations in eighteen countries worldwide.