Completion of Status Succession from Individual to Corporation as Operator of Hallim Arts High School

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Finalizes Acceptance of Installer Status Succession Report
917 Students Enrolled After New Admissions at Year-End

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The process of changing the operator of Hallim Arts High School, which produced numerous idol stars but faced the risk of closure after the founder's death, from an individual to a corporation has been completed.

On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it had officially accepted the succession report of the founder status of the public interest foundation Hallim Foundation, which operates Hallim Middle School and Vocational Entertainment Arts High School (Hallim Arts High School).

According to the revised "Lifelong Education Act" in December 2007, the founder of an accredited lifelong education institution must be a school corporation or a foundation corporation. Hallim Arts High School, established before the law revision, lost its qualification to establish a corporation after the founder passed away in February 2020, and was unable to recruit new students in 2021.

On November 27, 2020, a rally titled "Ensuring Students' Right to Learn and Teachers' Right to Livelihood Amid the Crisis of Hanlim Arts High School Closure" was held in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

As Hallim Arts High School faced the risk of closure, students, parents, and faculty members petitioned the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, drawing social attention. In June last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education approved the heir's application to establish a public interest foundation, paving the way for the heir's corporate establishment process.

In December last year, conditional approval was granted for recruiting new students, allowing the school to admit new students after two years. As of March, Hallim Arts High School operates a total of 28 classes (917 students), including 2 vocational classes (62 students) and 26 entertainment arts classes (855 students).

Hallim Arts High School is the first case among accredited lifelong education institutions where the founder status has been succeeded and operated by a corporation. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to actively manage the school to ensure it continues to operate as a public lifelong education institution, although there are still challenges to be resolved to protect students' right to learn.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "Hallim Arts High School was pushed to a serious situation of potential closure due to the sudden death of the initial founder, but through constant communication and empathy, the heir's decision to donate assets, the will and efforts of the school members, and the education office's active administrative support, the succession of the founder status to the Hallim Foundation was smoothly completed."

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