In-Person Classes Resume from 12th Grade; Entire School Quarantined and Remote Classes Implemented if On-Campus COVID-19 Cases Detected (Comprehensive)

Sequential School Reopening Starting Two Weeks After May Holidays
Only Grade 12 Students Preparing for Entrance Exams Attend First on the 13th

Self-Health Diagnosis Must Be Submitted via NEIS System
Attendance Prohibited if Household Member Traveled Abroad Within 14 Days

All Students and Staff Suspended from Attending if Confirmed Cases Occur
Masks Must Be Worn at All Times on Campus

Euneh Yu, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is announcing the plan for in-person classes at elementary, middle, and high schools on the 4th at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] After switching to in-person classes, students and staff with any suspected symptoms related to COVID-19 undergo diagnostic testing at medical institutions or screening clinics, and schools enter a rapid response system. If a confirmed case occurs among students or staff, the entire group enters self-quarantine.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye announced on the 4th the dates for switching to in-person classes for all kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools nationwide. Schools will reopen sequentially starting from the 20th, two weeks after the May holidays, with 3rd-year high school students (Grade 12) preparing for career and college entrance exams returning first on the 13th.

Next, on the 20th, 2nd-year high school students (Grade 11), 3rd-year middle school students (Grade 9), 1st and 2nd-grade elementary students, and kindergartens will return to school. On the 27th, 1st-year high school students (Grade 10), 2nd-year middle school students (Grade 8), and 3rd and 4th-grade elementary students will attend. Finally, on the 1st of next month, 1st-year middle school students (Grade 7) and 5th and 6th-grade elementary students will return.

Starting from the 7th, one week before reopening, 3rd-year high school students will begin self-diagnosis. Using the NICE self-diagnosis system via mobile devices, they will check at home before school for COVID-19 related symptoms such as nausea, loss of taste or smell, and diarrhea. If symptoms are present, students are instructed to visit medical institutions or screening clinics for diagnosis instead of attending school. Additionally, students living with family members under self-quarantine or who have traveled abroad within the last 14 days will be prohibited from attending school.

All students and staff must wear masks at all times while at school. To prevent infectious diseases, classrooms will be ventilated frequently, break times will be staggered, and frequently touched surfaces such as desks and door handles will be disinfected.

If students or staff test positive, the school will require all students and staff to self-quarantine and switch from in-person to remote learning.

Regarding school meals, measures will be taken to minimize contact between students by staggering meal times by grade and class, arranging seating differently, or using individual temporary partitions as appropriate. Additionally, the health status of food service workers will be checked twice daily.

Eun-Hye Yoo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is announcing the plan for in-person classes at elementary, middle, and high schools on the 4th at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moohonam

The Ministry of Education plans to provide separate guidelines by the end of this week regarding student attendance, classes, assessments, and record-keeping in preparation for in-person classes. This will include precautions related to midterm and final exams, performance assessments, and student record entries. The nationwide joint academic assessment conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, scheduled for the 12th, will be decided after discussions among provincial education superintendents this week.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye stated, "In-person classes do not signify the end of COVID-19. For the carefully decided reopening to proceed smoothly, the active interest and cooperation of the entire nation regarding social distancing in daily life and school quarantine guidelines are necessary. We will work closely with provincial education offices and health authorities to remain vigilant and thoroughly prepare."

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