Kindergarten and School Attendance Dates Adjusted on 27th Due to High Infection Concerns... 11 Locations in Seoul, 185 in Gyeongbuk (Update)

More Schools Likely to Miss Scheduled Attendance
Remote Classes to Replace In-Person If Attendance Not Possible
Ministry of Education Operates 24-Hour Emergency Attendance Support Center

On the 25th, a temporary entry ban is being enforced at an elementary school in Seoul as a private art academy instructor in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, raising concerns about virus transmission in the area. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Some schools with concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are adjusting the previously scheduled in-person classes on the 27th and switching to remote learning. The rest of the nationwide kindergartens, 1st and 2nd graders of elementary school, 3rd graders of middle school, and 2nd graders of high school will proceed as planned.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 26th that it is operating the Emergency Situation Room for Supporting In-Person Classes on a 24-hour basis and is coordinating with metropolitan and provincial offices of education, schools, and quarantine authorities to discuss adjustments to the in-person class schedule.

As of the 25th, 11 schools in Seoul including kindergartens, 185 schools in Gyeongbuk, and 1 school in Bucheon have adjusted their in-person class dates scheduled for the 27th. Since this is based on the previous day’s data, the number of schools adjusting their in-person class dates may increase.

In Seoul, due to a confirmed case of a kindergarten student who was in contact with a private academy instructor in Gangseo-gu, concerns about community infection led to adjustments in the in-person class dates for 7 elementary schools and 4 kindergartens. Accordingly, the affected elementary schools will start in-person classes from the 1st to the 3rd of next month, and some kindergartens may start after the 8th at the latest.

On the 25th, a citizen visiting the screening clinic at the Gangseo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul is undergoing a test amid growing concerns about virus transmission in the area after an instructor at an art academy in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

In the Gumi area of Gyeongbuk, after one private academy instructor and one after-school kindergarten teacher tested positive, the in-person class dates for kindergartens, elementary, and middle schools in Gumi were adjusted. In Sangju, Gyeongbuk, a church pastor tested positive, leading to the adjustment of the in-person class date for one elementary school to the 1st of next month, and the currently operating in-person classes at one elementary school and two middle schools were switched to remote learning.

In Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, the in-person class date was adjusted after an elementary school teacher tested positive on the morning of the same day.

The Ministry of Education explained, "We are comprehensively adjusting the in-person class schedule in consultation with quarantine authorities, the relevant schools, offices of education, and education support offices."

Regarding private academies, there were confirmed cases of instructors in Incheon, Gyeongbuk, and Seoul. In Incheon, there were 33 additional infections, in Seoul 1, and in Gyeongbuk no additional infections. The Ministry of Education plans to close the facilities where confirmed cases occurred and prohibit the use of those facilities for a sufficient period.

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