Cluster Infection at Coupang Logistics Center... Number of Students Attending Seoul Metropolitan Area Elementary and Middle Schools Reduced to One-Third

Ministry of Education Minimizes School Density

Metropolitan Area Spread from Coupang Logistics Center
Adjusting School and Regional Attendance Days

Third Phase of School Attendance Scheduled for Next Month 3 as Planned

On the first day of the second phase of school reopening on the 27th, third-year students at Yeouido Middle School in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, are attending school. On this day, approximately 2.37 million students nationwide, including high school sophomores, middle school third graders, first and second graders in elementary school, and kindergarteners, are attending schools and kindergartens. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Due to the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from the Coupang logistics center, schools at all levels in the Seoul metropolitan area that are conducting in-person classes have been put on high alert. Since all new confirmed cases have occurred in the metropolitan area, there are concerns that if in-person classes continue as planned, the possibility of transmission among students could increase.

Accordingly, on the morning of the 29th, the Ministry of Education announced strengthened measures to minimize school density for schools in the metropolitan area. The key point is to lower the density of students attending in-person classes in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and special schools (excluding high schools) in the metropolitan area to one-third or less, compared to the previously recommended guideline of 'no more than two-thirds density' within schools. Non-metropolitan areas can continue to apply the existing standards.

As more confirmed cases related to the Coupang logistics center emerged overnight, the number of schools suspending in-person classes, mainly in the metropolitan area, is expected to have increased this morning. As of the morning of the 28th, 838 out of a total of 20,902 kindergartens and schools nationwide had adjusted their in-person class schedules, accounting for about 4%. Individual schools may also proactively adjust their in-person class schedules in consultation with the Ministry of Education, local education offices, and quarantine authorities if there are high concerns about community transmission or if test results for symptomatic individuals or close contacts have not yet been confirmed.

This week, 2.37 million students started attending in-person classes, and including the already attending third-year high school students, the total is 2.81 million, which is about 47% of all students. The education authorities stated that the upcoming additional in-person class schedules will be maintained as planned. On the 3rd of next month, first-year high school, second-year middle school, and third- and fourth-grade elementary students will start attending, and on the 8th, first-year middle school and fifth- and sixth-grade elementary students will begin. The Ministry of Education explained, "The grades and classes attending in-person can be autonomously decided and operated by local governments and individual schools," adding, "The period will be linked to the government's strengthened quarantine measures for the metropolitan area but can be flexibly adjusted in consideration of the future infection situation and trends in community transmission."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Education will also implement an administrative order to refrain from operating academies and PC rooms until the 14th of next month. During this period, users of these facilities must comply with rules such as ▲registering entry logs ▲cooperating with symptom checks ▲prohibiting entry of symptomatic individuals ▲wearing masks ▲maintaining a distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) between students, and failure to comply may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW for both business owners and users.

Parents in the metropolitan area are increasingly anxious. Even if class days are adjusted by grade and in-person attendance times are staggered, it is practically impossible to avoid close contact during the commute, breaks, and meal times. A parent of a fourth-grade elementary student who will start attending on the 3rd of next month said, "Even if the school implements alternating day attendance at a minimum, I worry about infections during breaks and meals," but added, "If I don't send my child, they would have to stay home alone all the time, so it's a big concern." A parent of a second-year high school student who started attending on the 27th said, "Today (the 29th) is the third day my child has gone to school, and according to what my child says, students take off their masks and chat loudly during breaks when teachers are less vigilant, so I am very worried," adding, "If even one confirmed case occurs, the entire school will likely close, so I am very concerned."

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