TEDxKrea University

From the very beginning of our lives, we’re taught that learning, absorbing knowledge and building routines is the foundation of growth. We’ve long conceived of learning as something linear: a steady, step-by-step climb, with each new lesson building on the last. But what we aren’t taught as often is that the key to real progress doesn’t always lie in learning more; it can also mean having the courage to question what we think we already know and be willing to accept multiple answers - that taking two steps back is sometimes essential for that one step forward. Unlearning is a powerful, transformative, but often uncomfortable process. It means challenging long-held beliefs, rethinking patterns and trajectories that once brought us success, questioning the “truths” we’ve accepted without pause and recognising that change is the only constant in today’s dynamic world. In a landscape characterised by constant shifts in technology, culture, work, and communication, the tools and mindsets that once helped us thrive can sometimes become obstacles to our growth, making unlearning an essential part of moving forward. At TEDxKrea 2025: The Art of Unlearning, we invite you to reflect on the moments you had to hit the brakes, pivot on your path, or rewrite your narrative. We’re all handed a script by society, family, and culture - a set of expectations we’re meant to follow. But real change is often augmented when we choose to question that script, or even set it aside, to write our own story. Was there a belief you once held strongly that you’ve since shed? A way of working or living you had to renounce to move forward? Whether it’s rethinking rigid career goals, inherited cultural norms, perfectionism, or even emotions like fear, the process of unlearning allows us to evolve and replace hindering beliefs with fresh perspectives, creativity, and compassion. It's not about forgetting everything we know. It’s about being intentional with what we choose to carry forward. This year’s theme synthesises personal stories, professional transformations, and reflections on the lack of linearity in growth - processes that begin not with learning more but unlearning. Join us in exploring what it means to truly evolve as we turn our ear to impactful stories of letting go of the old to make space for the new.