Yoo Eun-hye: "School Density, Maintain 1/3 in Seoul Metropolitan Area's Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle Schools, and 2/3 in Non-Metropolitan Areas"

Maintaining Two-Thirds of High School Students in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Implemented for Two Weeks After September School Opening

Seoul Seongbuk·Gangbuk, Gyeonggi Yongin·Yangpyeong, etc.
Switch to Full Remote Classes Until the 28th

From the Third Week, Academic Operations to Be Decided in Consultation with Education Offices

Eun-Hye Yoo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education / Photo by Ho-Nam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] As social distancing in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas is raised to Level 2, the Ministry of Education recommends that schools in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon implement strengthened measures to minimize density for two weeks starting from the 18th.

On the 16th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex regarding follow-up measures in the education sector following the elevation to social distancing Level 2. She stated, "We held an emergency consultation with the superintendents of education in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Busan and decided to take preemptive measures without delay."

First, kindergartens, elementary, and middle schools in the metropolitan area will maintain school density at one-third during the same period, while high schools will maintain two-thirds capacity. The Ministry of Education plans to strongly recommend this after the September school reopening and request cooperation from metropolitan and provincial offices of education.

More proactive measures will be implemented for schools located in areas where community infections are spreading. Kindergartens and schools in Seongbuk and Gangbuk districts of Seoul, the entire city of Yongin in Gyeonggi, and parts of Yangpyeong County will switch to remote classes until the 28th. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo also stated, "All private academies in these areas are strongly recommended to close."

◆ Busan to conduct all remote classes until the 21st = The Ministry also requested measures to minimize density in 14 regions nationwide excluding the metropolitan area. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "In the 14 regions nationwide excluding the metropolitan area, all kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools must maintain school density at two-thirds according to the social distancing Level 1 academic operation standards," adding, "The application period is two weeks after the school reopening, until the 11th of next month." Busan, where local infections have recently spread, will also switch to remote classes starting next week, with measures in place until the 21st.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo added, "From the third week of September, academic operations will be determined later through consultation with quarantine authorities and education offices based on the COVID-19 situation."

Meanwhile, to address educational disparities caused by reduced in-person classes, the Ministry of Education will operate a special monitoring period in the second semester to continuously check school quarantine systems. School quarantine supplies (28.3 billion KRW) will be supported in the second semester, and influenza vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all students nationwide. Additionally, face-to-face attendance for classes ensuring basic academic skills or for educationally marginalized groups will be exempt from school density standards. Related services will also be provided to minimize care gaps caused by measures to reduce school density.

◆ Medium and small-sized academies included in operation restriction orders = Furthermore, operation restrictions and quarantine systems for academies will be strengthened. Not only large academies with over 300 people but also medium and small-sized academies will be subject to operation restriction orders. The Ministry of Education plans to request local governments to impose gathering bans and fines if core quarantine rules such as mask-wearing and maintaining distance between users are violated. PC rooms, newly added as high-risk facilities, are also urged to be avoided by students as multi-use facilities.

For universities, protection and management of international students will be strengthened, and expansion of non-face-to-face classes will be recommended. Quarantine system inspections will also be conducted.

Regarding the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "It is scheduled to be held on December 3 as planned," emphasizing, "There is no change to the plan."

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