Each Student Has a Different Schedule... Visiting Guri Galmae High School Under the 'High School Credit System'

Instead of Grade O Class O, Subject Classrooms... Equipped with Maker Rooms and Rest Areas
Full Implementation of High School Credit System in 2025, 192 Credits Required Over 3 Years
Teacher Supply and Space Securing Essential to Realize Diverse Class Offerings

Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is talking in the Mapmaker Room at Galmae High School in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, after finishing the comprehensive promotion plan announcement event for the high school credit system held on the 17th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting in 2025, when current 6th graders in elementary school become high school students, the high school credit system will be fully implemented. Students must meet attendance requirements (two-thirds of class sessions) and academic achievement rates (at least 40%) to graduate. They need to earn 192 credits over three years, with one credit equating to 16 class sessions, similar to universities (15 sessions). Significant changes are expected in high school classes, including how internal grades are calculated and recorded. We took a preview of the full implementation at Guri Galmae High School, which has already adopted the high school credit system.

On the 17th, Guri Galmae High School in Gyeonggi Province was visited. Unlike typical schools, it is divided into 'subject classrooms.' Instead of classrooms by grade and class, there are subject-specific rooms such as Room 202 for Korean, Room 203 for Japanese, and Room 402 for English. Since students move between classes, there are no assigned seats except for lockers at the front of each classroom. When students want to rest, they can use the 'Yuyujajeok Room,' a lounge on the second floor; when they want to focus during free periods, there is the 'Ihaedeuk Room,' set up like a study room with partitions; and there is also the 'Muhan Sangsang Room,' a maker space equipped with 3D printers and more. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye, who visited Galmae High School that day, said while touring the Yuyujajeok Room, "I want to go back to school."

Photo of Galmae High School related to the implementation of the High School Credit System / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Space for Self-Directed Learning at Galmaego 'Ihaedeuksil' / Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

Unique Classrooms Including Lounge and Maker Space, Yoo Eun-hye Says "I Want to Go to School"

Pyo Geon-hee, a student at Galmae High School who will be a senior this year, transferred to Galmae because of interest in the high school credit system. He hopes to become a science journalist and took classes in Life Science and Scientific Research Projects. In the Scientific Research Projects class, students select their own research topics. Pyo chose his topic after reading related papers and watching TED videos. He said, "I liked the high school credit system, so I decided to transfer. We can choose subjects outside the mandatory liberal arts and sciences framework, and among friends, AI and Big Data classes are very popular. I take the Scientific Research Projects class about two hours a week, and through elective subjects, I was able to find interesting parts of my vague dreams and concretize and plan my career path."

Different Timetables and Career Counseling Starting from 2nd Year

Inside the subject classroom of Galmae High School, a research school for the high school credit system / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Interior view of Galmae High School / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

At Galmae High School, even students in the same class have different timetables starting from the second year. This is because students take classes that match their career paths and interests, ranging from 'Scientific Research Projects' and 'General Engineering' to 'Humanistic Sensibility and Historical Understanding' and 'Japanese Culture.' Second-year mentor homeroom teachers counsel groups of about 13 students on career and life guidance. This opportunity to think more deeply about their own career paths rather than just preferred jobs satisfies parents as well. A parent at Galmae High School said, "My daughter initially aimed for a stable major in Public Administration but after taking AI and Information Processing classes, she concretely decided on a career in Big Data."

Galmae High School is a newly established high school in the Guri Galmae district with 182 students. Although Guri, a non-standardized district, generally has low preference for new schools, Galmae High School has gained recognition as a research school for the high school credit system by offering various subjects and preparing career exploration programs. This year, the number of students accepted to major four-year universities in the metropolitan area increased by 29 from the previous year to 73. Teacher Park Si-young said, "We prepare classes like Future Topic Research, Reading Classics, Korean Language, and National Territory Pilgrimage. It is physically demanding, but students are very satisfied. Many students prepare mainly for early admissions, so we name subjects clearly to reflect their themes to help with student records."

Teacher Supply and Space Securing Must Be Prioritized for High School Credit System

For the system’s purpose of offering various classes and allowing students to choose to be properly realized, securing teachers and space is a prerequisite. Park Si-young of Galmae High School said, "Other schools want to open subjects but face difficulties due to teacher supply issues, causing disparities between schools. Instead of supplying 1.95 teachers per class, teachers should be supplied based on subjects to support offering the classes students want."

Jeon Hyo-jin of Inhwa Girls' High School said, "Our school has space, but some general schools have 35 to 40 students per class. Schools that cannot increase the number of classes will inevitably face operational difficulties even if the high school credit system offers class choice, so securing space is important," she pointed out.

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