As underscored by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, the development of a learning city is an iterative process rather than a one-time endeavour. In South Korea the evolution of lifelong learning cities is also perceived as an ongoing journey, steadily advancing towards the realisation of a learning society’s vision. From this perspective, learning cities are seen as a continuous progression, commencing with the initial stage where cities and educational institutions expand learning opportunities. This evolution leads to a stage where citizens actively engage in city management as empowered learners, ultimately culminating in urban restructuring, where the city operates democratically based on a community of citizen learners (Kim, Learning society (in Korean), Lifelong Learning Books, 2020). It has been two decades since the earnest initiation of ‘lifelong learning cities’ in South Korea’s lifelong education landscape. As of 2023, 195 local governments in South Korea are actively promoting diverse lifelong learning projects for local residents under the banner of Lifelong Learning Cities, accounting for 86.3% of the 226 basic local governments in the country (Ministry of Education, Announcement of 2023 lifelong learning city selection results, Press release (in Korean), 2023). Presently, Lifelong Learning Cities are expanding to include the designation of Lifelong Learning Cities for Persons with Disabilities, signifying a community-based lifelong learning support initiative. The outward growth of learning cities is evident in their formative stages of development. After two decades of the Lifelong Learning City Creation Project, it is crucial to inquire about the journey of Korean lifelong learning cities.