Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Selects 8 Closed Schools to Return to Local Residents

Yeosu Geomun Elementary School, selected as a pilot site for the school closure project by the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to open eight closed schools in the province this year as pilot sites for the 'Closed Schools to Local Residents' project.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 10th, a total of 18 sites were recommended by city and county education support offices last August. After evaluating feasibility, effectiveness, and innovativeness and conducting on-site inspections, eight sites were selected for pilot operation.

The targeted closed schools are Gwangyang Jinwol Chowol Branch School, Goheung Songsan Elementary School, Naju Bonghwang Ok-san Branch School, Yeongam Yeongam Elementary Hakshin Branch School, Yeosu Geomun Elementary School, Yeonggwang Hongnong Elementary Dongmyeong Branch School, Haenam Sani Seo Elementary Geumho Branch School, and Jindo Jodo Elementary Donggeocha Branch School.

The 'Closed Schools to Local Residents' project is an initiative by the Provincial Office of Education to collaborate with local governments and village communities to transform closed schools into emotional centers of local communities and open them to the public.

This project is promoted under four themes: ▲ a shared resting place where the entire educational community can be happy ▲ a student experience space for the whole family ▲ a welfare facility preserving history and memories for residents ▲ a public facility for village communities serving as a regional development hub.

Departing from the previous policy focused mainly on 'sale or lease,' this project aims to develop a closed school utilization model that can coexist with local residents. With a budget of about 2 billion won secured through the main budget and local matching investments this year, basic facilities and environments will be established, and it is expected to open in the second half of this year.

Lee Seon-guk, Director of Finance, said, "The eight selected sites each present distinctive blueprints to revive abandoned closed schools and regions at risk of extinction. If the space is well organized by reflecting local residents' opinions, it could become a model case for utilizing closed schools in Jeonnam."

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