Residents to Take Charge of Local Chemical Safety with Citizen Schools in Gyeongnam and Capital Region

The government is launching an educational program aimed at enhancing the chemical safety capabilities of local residents and civil society activists, as well as establishing a community-based response system for chemical accidents.

The Chemical Safety Agency, part of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, announced that it will operate 'Chemical Safety Citizen Schools' in the Gyeongnam region and the Capital region for two months starting in August, with free enrollment for participants beginning on the 27th.

The Chemical Safety Citizen School is a community-based educational program co-hosted by the Chemical Safety Agency and civil society networks. Its goal is to train local residents and civil society activists to participate in collaborative governance, allowing local governments and civil society to discuss and decide on regional chemical safety issues together.

Last year, the agency conducted pilot training in the Jeonnam and Jeonbuk regions. Graduates from that program reported an increased understanding of chemical safety and expressed the need for ongoing educational programs for the public.

In response to feedback gathered during the pilot program, the agency has refined the curriculum and expanded this year's training to include the Gyeongnam region and the Capital region. The Gyeongnam training will be co-hosted by the Gyeongnam Health and Life Protectors, the Chemical and Food Workers Union, and the Ulsan Environmental Movement Union, with support from Ulsan City. The Capital region training will be co-hosted by Siheung City, the Chemical and Food Workers Union, the Capital Region Health and Life Protectors, and the Ansan-Siheung Irregular Workers Center, with support from Ansan City.

The training will be conducted over three days in each region and will consist of eight lectures and hands-on experiences, including theoretical education on basic concepts of chemical substances, discussions on enhancing collaborative governance for chemical safety, and a tour of the Chemical Safety Agency. Detailed information and application methods can be found on the Chemical Safety Agency's website.

Park Bong-kyun, head of the Chemical Safety Agency, stated, "We hope this training will enhance residents' understanding of chemical safety and strengthen their capacity to prepare for chemical accidents. Based on the results and feedback from this program, we plan to gradually expand the regions of operation to promote a community-based culture of chemical safety nationwide."