"Mask-Wearing Classes Continue, All Admission Briefings Canceled" ... Emergency in the Academy District

In Daechi-dong and Ilsan, Confirmed Patients' Movement Areas, 'Class Cancellations' Inquired Continuously
Masks and Hand Sanitizers Provided at Classroom Entrances... "Reminds Us of MERS Fear"

On the 30th, as anxiety grows over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), a notice related to Wuhan pneumonia prevention is posted at an academy in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) rise, not only schools but also various academies and cultural centers have gone on alert. All entrance exam briefing sessions scheduled for the weekend at large academies have been canceled.

According to the academy community on the 1st, right after the movement paths of the third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus were disclosed on the 27th of last month, parents in Daechi-dong, Seoul, and Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, began asking, "Is it safe to send children to academies?" This was due to concerns that if there were contacts among academy instructors or students, infection could spread rapidly, as the confirmed patient had visited nearby restaurants and cafes.

An official from an academy in the Ilsan area explained, "Through local mom cafes and parent group chats, stories spread about where the confirmed person had visited restaurants and that they were transported to ○○ Hospital, leading to many calls asking whether the academy would close. For academies targeting elementary school students, the absentee rate seems to be over 20-30%." The official added, "Recalling the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the past, we are worried about both the students' health and the operation of the academy. We have purchased disinfectants ourselves to sterilize classrooms, desks, and chairs, and we repeatedly emphasize handwashing to the students."

In the Gangnam area academy community, notices related to novel coronavirus prevention provided by district offices and education offices have been posted, and some have equipped thermometers and hand sanitizers. A large academy targeting high school students preparing for entrance exams has made mask-wearing mandatory for all students.

A parent said, "How can I not be worried when over 100 students are attending classes together in one space for 2-3 hours? The academy informed us that although tuition fees are non-refundable, if we notify them in advance, the course period can be extended."

On the 30th, as anxiety grows over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), students are studying while wearing masks at an academy in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Franchise-type tutoring academies and home-visit learning centers have taken management measures at the headquarters level for academies and teachers. Haebap Edu posted virus prevention guidelines at all franchise locations nationwide, including academies and tutoring centers, and advised them to prepare masks and hand sanitizers for students. In some regional academies, with parental consent, classes will be suspended for about two weeks, and suspended classes will be conducted via phone and video calls for those who wish.

Kyowon Kumon has been educating teachers daily on novel coronavirus prevention guidelines and checking their health status since the Lunar New Year holiday. Teachers are encouraged to wear masks as much as possible when meeting students at their homes, and parents are asked via text messages to notify in advance if they have recently visited China or other affected areas.

The large entrance exam academies' briefing sessions, which are usually very crowded around this time every year, have been canceled one after another. Megastudy Academy canceled the retake strategy briefing session scheduled for the afternoon of the 1st in Gangnam, Seoul, and Jongno Academy also canceled the retake briefing sessions scheduled at both its Gangnam and Gangbuk main branches. Thousands of students and parents had originally reserved for these sessions.

A Megastudy official said, "Internally, all preparations for the event were completed, but after several internal meetings, we decided to cancel the event prioritizing the safety and health of attendees. We plan to produce videos of the main lecture contents of the briefing sessions that could not be held on-site and provide them on our website around next week."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.