"Refund of Academy Fees During Quarantine Due to COVID-19" ... Closure Recommended in Areas with Infection Concerns

Ministry of Education Urges Strengthened Quarantine and Student Management in Academy Districts

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 Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Education has urged private academies and tutoring centers, as well as schools, to thoroughly implement quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and strengthen student management. It is also promoting measures to allow students to receive refunds for academy fees (tuition) if they are quarantined due to COVID-19.

On the 19th, the Ministry of Education announced that it is working on revising the enforcement decree of the Academy Act to allow students to receive refunds for academy fees if they are quarantined due to confirmed or suspected infectious diseases. The revision is planned to be completed in the first half of this year so that it can be applied immediately.

Currently, the Academy Act stipulates that tuition fees can only be refunded if the academy registration is canceled, the tutoring location cannot be provided, or if the learner voluntarily withdraws from the course. If a student is absent due to illness or other reasons, refunds are processed according to each academy's policy.

The Ministry of Education, together with metropolitan and provincial offices of education, has requested strengthened infectious disease guidance and supervision at academies and other multi-use facilities frequently used by students, and has reiterated recommendations that students and instructors who have visited mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau refrain from attending academies for 14 days after entry. This measure comes as most elementary, middle, and high schools have started their year-end vacations, increasing the time students spend at academies and raising concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the Ministry of Education recommended infection prevention education and quarantine measures for students and instructors at academies. Students and instructors with fever were advised to refrain from entering academies, and academies in regions where confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred or along confirmed patients' routes are deciding on temporary closures after consulting with parents.

As a result, by the 14th, over 300 academies nationwide had temporarily closed. On the 10th of this month, 357 academies were closed, the highest number officially recorded. The number of closed academies has decreased to 19 this week.

Metropolitan and provincial offices of education have also taken action. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has recommended temporary closure of academies attended by students under active monitoring and those in the same buildings. They conducted on-site guidance and supervision at 352 academies in the densely packed Seocho, Yangcheon, and Songpa districts.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is supporting quarantine supplies in cooperation with local governments and academy associations. In Gimpo City, hand sanitizers were provided, and in Yangju City, masks were supplied to local academy associations.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Office of Education recommended temporary closure of academies and tutoring centers on the 2nd of this month following confirmed cases in the Gunsan area on the 31st of last month. At that time, 619 out of 1,384 academies and tutoring centers closed.

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education recommended temporary closure of academies and tutoring centers on the 6th after confirmed cases occurred in the Naju area on the same day. Among 193 academies and tutoring centers, 157 closed.

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