"Unfair Measures" Backlash Against Metropolitan Area Academy Gathering Ban

"Learning Gaps Arise When School Attendance Is Not Possible"
Collective Action Considered If Measures Remain Unchanged

On the 7th, a day before the implementation of social distancing level 2.5, the academy district in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, showed a quiet scene. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeongseon Gong] As social distancing measures in the Seoul metropolitan area have been strengthened to level 2.5 and academies have been classified as subject to gathering bans, the academy community is strongly protesting. The academy side argues that applying measures equivalent to level 3 exclusively to academies is unfair.

The Korea Academy Federation stated in a press release on the 7th, "It is unfair to impose harsh measures only on academies." From the 8th, academies in the metropolitan area must close all classes except for entrance exam-related lessons and vocational skill development training courses.

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held the previous day, academies were selected as subjects for gathering bans equivalent to level 3, unlike general management facilities. The Federation argued, "PC rooms and movie theaters are allowed to operate until 9 p.m., but only academies have time restrictions, which is unreasonable," adding, "Academies are not spaces used by unspecified many people but by specific individuals, yet excessive measures have been imposed."

The Academy Federation pointed out that the gathering ban measures could cause educational disparities. The Federation emphasized, "In a situation where school attendance is not properly happening, if academies are subject to gathering bans, there is no way to supplement the insufficient learning," and "Even if academy operations are suspended, students who can afford private tutoring can make up for it, which will worsen the educational gap."

Academies are facing threats to their livelihoods due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Lee Won Lee, president of the Federation, said, "The government is forcing unconditional sacrifice by framing academies as 'bad education,'" and added, "If the government's current measures do not change, collective action is also being considered."

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