From Today, Full Remote Classes in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... What About the Second Semester?

Full Remote Classes for Kindergartens and Elementary to High Schools in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Until Summer Vacation
Gyeonggi and Incheon to Switch from the 12th... Remote Classes Preferred Over Early Vacation
Attendance Allowed During Remote Classes for Grade Checks and Vaccine Information
Vaccinations for 3rd Year High School Students Start from the 19th... Administered at School-Based Vaccination Centers

The number of new COVID-19 cases reached a record high of 1,615 as of midnight on the 14th. Citizens are waiting to be tested at the Jung-gu temporary screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From the 14th, kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools in the Seoul metropolitan area will fully switch to remote classes.

According to the Ministry of Education, as of the previous day, 4,282 schools nationwide (20.9%) were conducting remote classes. The highest number of schools switching to remote classes was in Gyeonggi Province with 3,577 schools, followed by Incheon with 350 schools, and Seoul with 328 schools. In Gyeonggi and Incheon, most schools began remote classes from the 12th, while in Seoul, the majority of schools switched starting on this day.

Most schools will start summer vacation next week, but many have chosen to switch to remote classes rather than start vacation early. A Ministry of Education official stated, "Only a very small number of schools are adopting early vacation, as changes to the academic calendar require deliberation by the school operation committee. There are various options such as shortening summer or winter vacations, but the atmosphere favors remote classes more."

Before the social distancing level in the Seoul metropolitan area was raised to Level 4, students were attending school at an elementary school in Seoul on July 8. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Even after switching to remote classes, partial in-person classes are possible for final exams, end-of-term grade checks, and COVID-19 vaccination guidance for 12th graders.

However, unlike schools, private academies (hagwons) are allowed to operate until 10 PM. Hagwons are classified as multi-use facilities and are subject to the same operating hour restrictions as restaurants and cafes, which must close by 10 PM. The Ministry of Education is reportedly not considering orders for closure or gathering bans. From this month, quarantine rules have been revised, requiring hagwons to ventilate at least three times a day and ventilate classrooms for 10 minutes after each lecture.

Vaccinations for 12th graders and school staff will also begin on the 19th. Each school will coordinate with vaccination centers and schedules to vaccinate staff and 12th-grade students. Absences on the day of vaccination and up to two days after will be recognized as excused absences, and if adverse symptoms occur after three days, they will be recognized as medical leave.

The Ministry of Education initially considered full in-person attendance for the second semester, but with the rapid increase in confirmed cases in the metropolitan area, expanding full attendance has become uncertain. The Ministry has stated, "We will decide based on the infection trend." Although the new semester starts in mid-August, if the metropolitan area remains at level 4, full remote classes must be conducted according to the level 4 school density standards. A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official said, "It is difficult to predict the situation a month from now, but the Ministry of Education should announce attendance-related guidelines by early August so that schools can decide and prepare accordingly."

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