Hallim Arts High School Avoids Closure Crisis... Granted Conditional Approval for Corporation Establishment

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Approves Establishment Application for Public Interest Foundation 'Hallim Foundation'
Delay in Corporate Conversion After Founder’s Death Prevented 2021 Academic Year Freshman Recruitment
Freshman Recruitment Possible Upon Asset Contribution and Mortgage Resolution Completion

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Hallim Performing Arts High School, which was on the verge of closure, has obtained conditional approval for corporate establishment. If measures to protect learning rights are implemented, it will be possible to recruit new students for the 2022 academic year.

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it would approve the application for the establishment of the public interest foundation Hallim Foundation by the heir of Hallim Elementary, Middle, and Vocational Performing Arts High School (hereafter Hallim Arts High School), a lifelong education facility recognized for academic credit.

According to the revised "Lifelong Education Act" of December 2007, the entity establishing a lifelong education facility recognized for academic credit must be a school corporation or a foundation corporation. Hallim Arts High School, designated as an academic credit facility before the law revision, was unable to recruit new students for the 2021 academic year due to the death of its founder in February last year and the lack of qualifications to establish a corporation.

Students currently enrolled, prospective students, parents, and faculty members who wished to preserve Hallim Arts High School filed petitions on the Blue House and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education websites, drawing social attention. The school, facing financial difficulties, caused controversy by notifying some staff of unpaid leave or dismissal.

This is the first case of corporatization of a lifelong education facility in Seoul since the revision of the Lifelong Education Act. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "This achievement was possible through the Ministry of Education's authoritative interpretation, consultations with education conflict management experts and accountants, information sharing with SH Corporation, continuous communication with the heir, and decisive property contributions, all aimed at preserving a distinctive educational institution and ensuring diverse educational opportunities."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education granted conditional approval to help Hallim Arts High School escape closure. Currently, rights other than ownership are established on the Hallim Arts High School site and buildings due to unpaid land sale fees to SH Corporation, so measures must be taken to prevent infringement of learning rights.

The Hallim Foundation will be able to recruit students after succeeding to the founder's status following the implementation of learning rights protection measures such as corporate establishment registration, property contribution, and mortgage resolution.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "We will actively manage and support Hallim Arts High School, which has overcome various obstacles and succeeded in corporatization, so that it can continue to operate as a public lifelong education facility recognized for academic credit."

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