Yoo Eun-hye "Considering Level 3 Social Distancing"... Cho Hee-yeon "Full Remote Classes Needed for Schools in the Capital Area" (Summary)

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo: "Assuming Step 3 Can Be Implemented Anytime"

Seoul Teachers' Union: "Overcrowded and Oversized Schools, Risk Extends to Childcare"

1845 Schools in 11 Cities Nationwide Postpone Return-to-School Schedules

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is speaking at the 'Related Agencies Inspection Meeting for Strengthening School Quarantine in the Metropolitan Area' held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 24th. This meeting was organized to seek cooperation measures to ensure student safety and stable academic operations at schools amid the elevation to social distancing level 2 due to the resurgence of COVID-19. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] There is growing demand to operate remote classes equivalent to social distancing level 3 for the time being, targeting only schools in the Seoul metropolitan area.

At the Seoul metropolitan area school quarantine inspection meeting on the 24th, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "There is a need to apply various operational measures suitable for the current situation, such as switching to remote classes equivalent to level 3 until September 11, at least in the Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul and Gyeonggi." Superintendent Cho requested the Ministry of Education to "consider policies that reflect the characteristics of the Seoul metropolitan area rather than the nationwide unified plan applied in March and April." If social distancing is raised to level 3, schools nationwide must close or implement full remote classes.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, and included superintendents from the Seoul metropolitan area, the Ministry of Education, and Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon (Chairman of the National Association of Mayors, County Governors, and District Heads). It was a forum to discuss support for quarantine personnel between local governments and education offices. The Ministry of Education emphasized collaboration between basic local governments and education support offices in the second semester, following the first semester.

Eunehye Yoo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is speaking at the 'Related Agencies Inspection Meeting for Strengthening School Quarantine in the Metropolitan Area' held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 24th. This meeting was organized to seek cooperation measures to ensure student safety and stable academic operations at schools amid the escalation to social distancing level 2 due to the resurgence of COVID-19. Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo also mentioned the need for proactive situation assessment. Yoo said, "Assuming that social distancing level 3 in the Seoul metropolitan area can be implemented at any time, we will prepare in advance with the education offices."

The Seoul Metropolitan Teachers' Union also demanded proactive response to COVID-19 infections from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education through a press release on the same day. The union stated, "The ongoing in-person classes should be fully switched to online classes to prioritize the safety of teachers and students," adding, "In overcrowded and oversized schools, with one-third of students attending in person plus care services, it is difficult to guarantee safety between students and staff."

Meanwhile, on the same day, 1,845 kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools in 11 cities and provinces nationwide adjusted their school attendance days.

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