Jasson moves to Gangdong-gu to prioritize his son's play over academics

Broadcaster Jasson revealed on the Aika Labs YouTube channel on the 24th that he moved from Gangnam to Gangdong-gu to provide his son, Jun-beom, with an environment to play with peers. While prioritizing play now, Jasson said he is willing to return to Daechi-dong later to utilize its superior infrastructure for diverse experiences.

Broadcaster Jasson revealed the reason he left Gangnam for Gangdong-gu: to prioritize an environment where his son, Jun-beom, can play freely with peers over immediate academic performance or proximity to private academies. However, he left the possibility open to moving back to Daechi-dong if it means providing more experiences for his child, drawing attention to his realistic approach to education.

On the 24th, a video titled "Daechi-dong or Mok-dong, do you really have to go? Jasson and dentists' thoughts on school districts" was released on the YouTube channel Aika Labs. In the video, Jasson shared thoughts on the pros and cons of school districts and child education with dentists Ju Gi-hun and Choi Seon-ho.

Jasson stated that he does not believe his son must necessarily excel at studying. "When raising Jun-beom, actually, he doesn't have to be good at studying," he said, adding, "He doesn't have to be good at studying, but I think he needs a certain amount of strength—the strength to stay seated." He meant that the ability to focus and persevere in one task is more important than simply the ability to raise grades.

Jasson emphasized that this philosophy is not limited to academics. "I think about this not just for studying, but even when playing with LEGO, living requires that 'sitting strength,'" he explained. He believes the ability to focus for a certain amount of time without giving up easily is necessary throughout life. This reflects an educational view that, regardless of academic success, it is important for a child to accumulate experiences of immersion and achievement.

In fact, Jasson moved his residence after contemplating his son's growing environment. "Rather, I lived in Gangnam and then moved to Gangdong-gu, where I felt I could play with my child a bit more enjoyably," he revealed. He chose to provide a living environment suited to Jun-beom's current age rather than staying in an area densely packed with academies and educational facilities.

The reason Jasson is satisfied with life in Gangdong-gu is the ability to naturally mingle with children of the same age. "For a child at this age, I thought a good environment meant an environment where they can play well," he said, citing the ability to meet friends at complex facilities to play baseball and the abundance of peers in the neighborhood as advantages. He views an environment where a child can meet friends and run around in daily life, even without special plans, as helpful for growth.

"Ultimately, I think a good environment is one where they can play enjoyably while something in their head becomes bright," he said. He added, "As a parent raising an only child, isn't it very understandable that there are many friends to hang out with?" He views playing with peers not merely as a leisure activity, but as a process of developing social skills, creativity, and learning about the world.

However, he does not deny the advantages of school districts. Jasson stated that he is willing to move back to Daechi-dong if it becomes necessary to provide diverse experiences as his child grows. "While playing is important for the child now, I am willing to return later to provide various experiences," he said, noting, "There is no place with facilities and infrastructure as good as Daechi-dong." While he currently prioritizes play and peer relationships, the infrastructure of school districts could become an important consideration when choosing an educational environment in the future.

Jasson also emphasized the importance of providing broad experiences from a young age rather than pre-determining a child's temperament or characteristics. "Rather than a child's temperament or characteristics, I think it is right to let them have many experiences from a young age," he explained. "Studying is one way, and whether it is swimming, Taekwondo, or traveling, that is why I seem to take Jun-beom around a lot." Rather than fitting a child into a specific educational method, he intends to observe what the child finds interesting and what potential they show by letting them experience various activities.

Ultimately, Jasson's educational philosophy does not conclude that one side—between Gangnam and Gangdong-gu, or school districts and non-school districts—is unconditionally correct. While what Jun-beom needs now is an environment to enjoy daily pleasures by playing with friends, he may change his choice if more diverse educational opportunities become necessary as the child grows. Jasson's flexible attitude in considering both his son's present and future is drawing interest.

Read the original (Korean)