Jakarta, May 9 -- APEC economies held a four-day meeting in Jeju to address a growing set of challenges facing the region's workforce, including impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), aging populations, and persistent gaps in education and employment systems.

Speaking at the opening plenary of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group on Wednesday (May 7), Vice Minister of Korea's Ministry of Education Seok-Hwan Oh emphasized the urgent need to reform education systems to keep pace with technological disruption.

"We are at a turning point. Education must go beyond transmitting knowledge. It must connect learners, encourage critical thinking, and promote adaptability," Vice Minister Oh said, as noted in a release issued by the...