"A Childhood Dream Box"... The Nostalgic 'Gwahak Sangja' Fades into History After 43 Years
Creative Educational Kit Loved for Over 40 Years
Operations to Cease Due to Management Difficulties
The assembly-type science kit 'Gwahak Sangja,' popular among students born in the 1980s and 1990s, is disappearing into history. On the 12th, Gwahak Sangja (formerly Jeil Jeongmil) announced on its website that it will cease operations on the 24th. The business closure is due to management difficulties caused by decreased demand. The company stated, "Operations will end on January 24," and added, "Purchases, inquiries, and after-sales service (AS) will be available until the 24th."
First released in 1982, Gwahak Sangja is a set of parts and tools made of bolts, nuts, metal, and plastic. It allows users to freely build various models such as cars and light aircraft. It gained popularity among parents as a science educational tool that helps enhance creativity. The science kit, composed of roughly designed metal parts, has consistently released various new models like coding packs and Robo Boxes. The cover of the initial model featured the phrase, "Let us develop scientific brains in the growing generation to wisely raise children in the era of science."
In the past, elementary schools held Gwahak Sangja assembly competitions. Participants had to create models that could perform complex or desired movements using the power mechanisms inside the kit, requiring observation skills, creativity, and concentration. Additionally, Gwahak Sangja was praised for sparking children's interest in science and technology and contributing to nurturing future engineers and scientists.
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Online communities expressed much regret upon hearing the news of Gwahak Sangja's closure. Netizens reacted with comments such as, "I didn't even know it was still being sold," "It feels like childhood memories are disappearing," and "When I was in elementary school, it was too expensive for my parents to buy, but now even if I have money, I can't buy it." Among them, one netizen shared, "Playing with Gwahak Sangja increased my interest in machinery," adding, "I went on to study mechanical engineering and now I have a job. Thank you, Gwahak Sangja." On the day of the closure announcement, the official Gwahak Sangja website experienced heavy traffic all day, causing access to be blocked.
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